I think a good spot would be right out front of the KIN center...
Lots of room, lots of parking, they can close off the doors accessing Kin1 and Kin2 and people can go in the front entrance and the washrooms are right there. I don't think that the city should not be hit with the cleanup of these areas so that would become the responsibility of the Farmers Market group.
Just a thought.....

Great idea BCRacer. In front of City Hall is nuts. How much will it cost to repair and re-seed the lawns after hundreds of people have trampled it in wet weather? And as far as washrooms, how will that work? Do we all get to use Hizzoners private toilet? As far as security and needle cleanup in front of the courthouse? Why the hell isn't the City ALREADY taking care of that problem. How did all these "decision makers" get so flexible, that they could get their heads so far up their own backsides they can't see the obvious solutions to the obvios problems? Don't we have an election coming up soon?

We can hope...but me thinks there are a few more trips to China first...

'and a problem with cleanliness as the site has to be cleared of needle and drug paraphernalia before the market can get underway.'

When will the current, and future City Councils realize that the people of this community are SICK of the condition of our downtown?

The condition of our downtown should be the number one election issue this fall, and the number one reason to get rid of the current cabal of hand-wringers, including Mr. Kinsley.

It's unbelievable.

Good post Vikingnuck!! I was thinking the exact same thing...why is there needles and other drug crap on the front steps of our very attractive courthouse. I would think that the city should be cleaning up downtown. I have actually given up hope that PG's downtown will be anything than what it is now. Lots of talk and zero action makes one just give up. I shop downtown occassionally, but not as often as I should. Big box is definitely taking lots of business. I like to shop in the new college heights area, lots of stores and it's clean and not depressing. I hope when we get a fresh new major (that's my hope...)he/she will start a cleanup that works. Kamloops managed to do so...why can't PG...? The farmers market can only help downtown, I believe that it would be the cities responsibility to help it be successful by giving what is asked and needed. To heck w/ pulling apart the cameron street bridge for the railway museum, put that $$$ towards something people actually care about...like the farmers market.

I would like to see figures stating how many booths are actually local products and how many are just a craft sale. Go to places like Kitchener, Ontario to see a true farmers market. Just a name.

Interesting comment from "old Hippy".

An easy way for old hippy to see this data would be for old hippy, and any others with the same thought, to drop down to the Market and check it out for themselves.

According to the letter submitted by the Farmer's Market, they were looking for an alternative to Wilson's Square. Firstly the location is no longer ideal as they are growing. Secondly, the access to water and washrooms. The Market had suggested Civic Center Plaza. The recommendation came back saying that the group would be bumped from the Plaza if another event was to occur. So of course, this is not in the Market's best interest as they want a permanant location. The end result was the proposal by leisure services to council, recommending the Market by granted $17,000 to provide security, water, portable toilets and clean-up for the Wilson Square locale. City council voted against it.
Personally, leisure services, imo, could have been of more assistance finding a better location. That is what the group was hoping for. Also, the letter was submitted last fall and only surfaced with recommendations a few weeks ago...

Hopefully, the Farmer's Market will be able to secure a larger, better location for next season.

Downtown revitalization has always been first and foremost the number one campaign issue even before I moved up here. If they did make downtown nice it wouldn't be an election issue. Then what would they do?

Posted by: robichal on May 3 2008 1:09 PM
Good post Vikingnuck!! I was thinking the exact same thing...why is there needles and other drug crap on the front steps of our very attractive courthouse. I would think that the city should be cleaning up downtown. I have actually given up hope that PG's downtown will be anything than what it is now. Lots of talk and zero action makes one just give up. I shop downtown occassionally, but not as often as I should. Big box is definitely taking lots of business. I like to shop in the new college heights area, lots of stores and it's clean and not depressing. I hope when we get a fresh new major (that's my hope...)he/she will start a cleanup that works. Kamloops managed to do so...why can't PG...? The farmers market can only help downtown, I believe that it would be the cities responsibility to help it be successful by giving what is asked and needed. To heck w/ pulling apart the cameron street bridge for the railway museum, put that $$$ towards something people actually care about...like the farmers market.


Or POTHOLES

Posted by: tinyapplecork on May 3 2008 5:46 PM
According to the letter submitted by the Farmer's Market, they were looking for an alternative to Wilson's Square. Firstly the location is no longer ideal as they are growing. Secondly, the access to water and washrooms. The Market had suggested Civic Center Plaza. The recommendation came back saying that the group would be bumped from the Plaza if another event was to occur. So of course, this is not in the Market's best interest as they want a permanant location. The end result was the proposal by leisure services to council, recommending the Market by granted $17,000 to provide security, water, portable toilets and clean-up for the Wilson Square locale. City council voted against it.
Personally, leisure services, imo, could have been of more assistance finding a better location. That is what the group was hoping for. Also, the letter was submitted last fall and only surfaced with recommendations a few weeks ago...

Hopefully, the Farmer's Market will be able to secure a larger, better location for next season.

The farmers market is a for profit business venture and should not be given our tax dollars to help them make money for themselves

I have said this before.... The buildings in the downtown are owned by private citizens engaged in business for personal profit. It is not my responsibility to give them my tax dollars to help them spruce up the area for them to have a nice fat bank account, unless my name gets put on that account. Get my drift?
If my tax dollars are used for new sidewalks and pressure washing all the gum off of them then thats fine. If it's going to be used for increasing the profits of private business then thats just wrong.

I don't think that revitalizing PG is about vendors making money...(not to me anyway...) its about the appearance of PG. If that improves and people make money, so what??? I would actually like my tax $$$ to be used to actually tear down some of those old, very unattractive buildings and new ones built. I understand it isn't that simple. We ate at the Achillion last night and I was looking around...The Croft, The PG Hotel, it is all mixed up w/ places that are nice and higher end i.e. Ric's Grill, The Ramada, The Waddling Duck...it must just come down to really bad city planning? I don't get why higher end is all mixed in w/ low end...it's really bad.

Information about the Prince George Farmers Market is available at the following web site:

http://www.farmersmarketpg.ca/web/index.php

Downtown as a new location, it is called college heights!