Farmers’ Market Enjoying ‘Cozy’ New Home
The Farmers’ Market takes root in its new indoor location on 6th Avenue
Prince George, BC – While preparations were months in the making, the Prince George Farmers’ Market transitioned smoothly from the outdoor market at Wilson Square to its new indoor location on 6th Avenue in mid-October.
Market President, Nancie Krushelnicki, says, "Thanks to our members, we were able to be ready to go as soon as the outdoor market closed – the next week (October 20th), we just moved right into the indoor building." She says it took a lot of work from volunteers and tradespeople to bring the building ‘up to snuff’, with roofing, wiring, patching and painting all being done over the summer months.
"The City gave us ample opportunity, lead time, to get in and get working on the facility and they’ve been more than helpful," says Krushelnicki. The Farmers’ Market spent last spring searching for a new home after the landlord served notice of a significant rent increase on the space inside the old Morrison’s Men’s Wear building at the corner of 3rd Avenue and George Street. A deal for a long-term lease on the city-owned building behind the Keg Restaurant on 6th Avenue was announced late this summer.
The market runs every Saturday through the winter from 8:30am until 2pm.
"It’s a smaller facility than we had previously for indoors, but it just makes it cozier for all of the vendors – they help one another and really create a positive atmospher," says Krushelnicki.
There are 24 permanent vendors offering a full range of products, from produce, to meat, bread, and eggs. As well as four spots available to other market members on a rotating basis. "We want to ensure a variety of products for our regular customers, so we have some vendors that come every second week, we have some that come just occasionally with jewellery and a variety of goods."
Bob Orr is one of those permanent vendors. He was at the market on Friday to prepare in advance of yesterday’s opening.
He, too, uses the word ‘cozy’ to describe the new market space, but says it’s great to have lots of people in and milling around.
Krushelnicki says there have been a consistent number of regular customers into the market over the past month and a half, along with a few new people.
"It’s just been terrific," she says. "And we’re really looking forward to doing more in the area." The market is planning a Solstice celebration on December 21st that will include some outdoor activities.
Photo below shows Peter Stevenson, 23-month-old Effie Stevenson, and Jesse Thompson just bundling up after their market visit.
The family visits the local market year-round and says while the new space can get a little crowded at times, they think it’s great.
Comments
Who owns the old building? large rent increase! Is it mclaren and the commonwealth crew? Please set me straight.
Yes indeed Dan & Company bought the old Morrisons Mens Wear building what the indoor market was renting. WEann get them out…raise the rent
If that is the case, Did this group or the farmers market ask the city for a grant to fix up the outside of the building (tax payers money again). Either way, increase the value of a privet enterprise building at tax payers expence. It appears commonwealth cant make money by creating a business on their own but they have discovered they can, asking for grants, no interest loans, loans that forgive interest, and tax breaks. How that going commonwealth. Yea right, you have defaulted on the loan due on the 31st of oct. to NDIT and principal involved (DAN MCLAREN) is a finacial planner/ mortgage broker. He was quoted in the Citizen news paper as being “genuinelt dumbfounded” by NDIT’s calling of the loan. Hey Dan, your a mortgage broker and you do not know how a mortgage works?
I think the market is better off as there is also a parking lot and a deadend street that can give them the oppertunity to move out side in the warmer weather. The market is better off.
Seems to me that the five year lease will tie in nicely with the end of the Winter Games, and the beginning of the need for a Performing Arts Centre.
Doesnt the Playhouse Theatre operators also have a five year lease??? Hmmmmm.
The plan is to tear down the Playhouse and sell the ;property to commercial use.
All sales of city property go to the Land Reserve fund, and then are transferred to the Captial Project Fund.
If I was a betting man, I would bet that the City has plans to finance its portion of the Performing Arts Centre with the funds from the sale of the Playhouse, and the Pine Valley Golf course.
Just speculation of course, however every thing seems to tie in. The propery adjacent to the **new** farmers market is probably where the new PAC would be located.
Time will tell.
Care to speculate on how much Brent Marshall paid for the land between the Sandman and the PGGCC entrance ? And does the golf club get that money or does it go to the Land Reserve Fund ?
Middle finger……I sincerely hope that you are not insinuating that Brent Marshall and the Northland group somehow didn’t observe all right and proper rules to purchase that property. Brent Marshall and his company have been one of the biggest and best corporate citizens that Price George has ever seen. They have supported an untold number of local charities and good will causes and deserve every respect we can extend to them. There is absolutely no basis for any hurtful gossip in this company’s case. I hope you will explain the meaning of your opening line “care to speculate on how much Brent Marshall paid for the land between the Sandman and the PGGCC entrance”
Gimmeabreak, take a pill, I did not insinuate anything. I wondered what the cost of the land was and what the PGGCC or the city would do with the money. Didn’t the club already recieve money to fix up the curling rink and lounge for the winter games ?
As far as I know the money from the sale of the land that the tennis court is located on goes to the City, because they own it. Part of the money from the sale will go to re-locate the Tennis Courts to the North end of the PG Golf and Curling club, and to renovate the PGGCC building. Some $800,000.00. The balance (who knows how much) will go to the Citys land reserve fund, and then transferred to the Capital Projects fund.
The property North of the Tennis court property up to the turn off to the Playhouse theatre I believe is owned by the PG Golf and Curling club. They of course will keep the money from the sale of this property.
It wasnt that long ago that the City relocated the rotary soccer fields from this property to 15th an Ospika, and relocated the Tennis courts to this site. In addition they sold the soccer property to the golf course. They are now in the process of tearing down and relocating the tennis courts,. and the golf course is selling the property, and downsizing their driving range.
It is almost impossible to keep up with all the shenanigans that the city goes through with relocating and selling property in this town.
So tell me gimmeabreak, by your post I can take from it that you feel that there have been other real estate transactions where the parties didn’t observe all right and proper rules to purchase property.
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“It is almost impossible to keep up with all the shenanigans that the city goes through with relocating and selling property in this town.”
Is it any wonder when others are doing the same. Investing in community it is called.
Well, with any luck it is investing in one’s retirement years …. hopefully the City is investing in our retirement years.
:-Ã
Take into account that, as far as I know, the PGGCC has been property tax exempt since it’s conception. Some folks have a lifetime membership for free golf. That membership cannot be transferred or sold if you move out of town.
I assume a non-transferrable free golf membership for the lifetime of the club ….
The membership can be handed down in the family from Father/Mother, to son/daughter, etc; These are the original memberships, of which there are not too many.
Gus. These shenanigans by the City over the past 15 years has cost taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. If these dudes worked for a private company they would have been fired time and time again.
The City wastes so much money, that it is highly unlikely there is any money for our retirement years. Mostly what we will get for the next 15 years, is tax increases, and more debt.
Not one person in this town, will actually stand up and tell people exactly what is going on, how much it is costing, how much it will cost over the next 10 years, how it will be paid for, who will pay for it.
Its not a pretty picture. I’m beginning to think that our Councillors and Mayor’s are not up to the job of actually running this City in an effecient way. In fact I beleive they are in over thier heads, and just get by as best they can.
Over the past 15 years everything the City has touched has turned brown. It appears the future will be more of same, starting Monday night, when they make the first move, to take the Pine Valley Golf course from local citizens, sell the property to commercial developers, and use the proceeds of the sale for thier special interest groups Performing Arts Centre.
Palopu …. the PAC is not on any agenda of anyone at City Hall other than to delay, delay, delay, which has been going on since at least the time of Discovery Place. Nothing has changed.
If they think that any other government funders are going to accept donations in kind, such a property they are dreaming. They have to provide serious participation.
So, let us not lose sight of a few other things that are on the agenda tomorrow.
First, there is the 100th anniversary celebration which is in need of a project. Well, surprise of all surprises it will be sinking some more money into the Civic Plaza because that will be the main ceremonial space for the Winter Games. Half million bucks has so far been allocated for the capital project plus say $50,000 for design and promotion. It could be matched by federal grants for such things. I do not think any of this is going to solve problems associated with that part of the city not being used to the degree it could be during non-event times, such as the plaza in front of Toronto City Hall, for instance, or even the Art Gallery and Court House various areas in Vancouver.
Our plaza needs animation in a big way â¦.. then again, we are not really animated people here, are we? LOL
http://princegeorge.ca/cityhall/mayorcouncil/councilagendasminutes/agendas/2012/2012_12_03/documents/Cmte_100th_Ann.pdf
The second item is the cover letter and annual report by TNW which was sent to the Mayor and Council. It is buttering up the City for getting a continuing gift of $118,000 per year to support a private operation. I figure a 15% lift in ticket prices could drop that support by $100,000 easily. Not identified directly by KPMG, if I am correct. Why? Why is that not going to support the Cityâs Playhouse operation or even the operation to attract even more money making artists to the CN Centre? Or perhaps, shock, an annuity of $100,000 per year towards a PAC.
http://princegeorge.ca/cityhall/mayorcouncil/councilagendasminutes/agendas/2012/2012_12_03/documents/Corr_Theatre_NW.pdf
Mddle finger….just wanted to remind you that opening sentences like the one in question is EXACTLY how “whisper campaigns” get started.
Gus…I only form opinions based on fact…. and if in “fact” it is discovered that someone has “played games” during purchase of city properties…then that deserves to be made public.
So Gus I’m not suggesting that this type of stuff is going on….that is unless some facts surface to support it.
Gimmeabreak…..seeing that you want to act as my teacher, answer me a question. How is it that if a person has no credit, and as the commercial goes, EVEN IF YOUR MAMA WON’T LEND YOU MONEY, you can drive away in a brand new Chrysler product ?
Not implying anything teacher, just curious is all.
Middle finger…your conversation is going sideways and is far off the original subject…have a good day
Middle finger…your conversation is going sideways and is far off the original subject…have a good day
It was…..thank you.
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