What will it take for the 'dysfunctional' downtown Hamilton Farmers’ Market to thrive? Council seeks reset

The Hamilton Farmers' Market needs to be able to climb out of its basement and make a splash on downtown streets.

It should also offer easy access for farmers to periodically pull up and set up produce stands if it's to reclaim its agricultural roots.

Likewise, the 186-year-old institution should also embrace change by allowing eateries to open later into the evening.

But that's difficult to achieve with the building's existing footprint, a consultant told council Monday.

There's definitely work to be done. I mean the building is dysfunctional in a lot of ways," said David O'Neil of Project for Public Spaces.

A renovation in 2010 did the market a disservice," O'Neil said, noting its layout hinders circulation, while its exhaust and electrical systems constrain operations, and its entrances are less than inviting.

It's a great time to rethink that facade," he also said, and rethink that handshake with the city."

Those are some of the findings of the consultant's efforts to explore how the oft-studied York Boulevard market can thrive for decades to come," including during years of major redevelopment in the area.

The vision and role" report, which the past council requested, overlaps with an ongoing governance review of the market that a different consultant is expected to present in about three months.

In the meantime, with the delivery of the latest study, city economic development staff have recommended another review of up to $200,000 into the market's physical design and layout."

Councillors expressed enthusiasm, but opted to first seek the opinion of the market's board of directors, who next meet in June, before signing off on that direction.

I think it's pretty clear that there's a real desire to do something significant, positive," Mayor Andrea Horwath said.

The market is a public asset," said Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, who is chair of its board and represents downtown. And until we start treating it like a public asset, it's not going to thrive the way we want it to. We keep asking the market to come here cap in hand year after year."

For years, the market has been embroiled in turmoil, ranging from rocky board relations to shaky finances, which became more dire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But vendors have also consistently complained about physical changes to the market that came about with the 2010 refurbishment.

At the time, council allocated about $13 million for renovations, an amount to be split between the market and adjacent public library, Coun. Tom Jackson recalled.

The Central Library has been a smashing success," the veteran east Mountain councillor remarked, but not so much the reworked market, he suggested.

For example, massive concrete columns that were constructed in the middle of walkways so that people with walkers, scooters, couldn't even get around them to get to the vendor to purchase the product they wanted," Jackson said. Anyways, it's just been a tug and pull."

In its report, Project for Public Spaces, which conducted consultations on the state of the market, offers options to address its physical constraints": it could stay put and make incremental changes"; make a temporary move to allow for renovations and move back in; move to a new location nearby.

The market would benefit from more public space, including for seating, events and programming. It should be able to spill outdoors" to better connect to its surroundings."

That includes the library and City Centre mall, which is slated for demolition and redevelopment in coming years, along with other major York Boulevard projects on the horizon.

That activity could pose barriers to access, said O'Neil, but added there are also opportunities for partnerships that the market could explore, including ways to use the Jackson Square rooftop.

The more time people spend in the market, the happier they are in the market; the more money they will spend in the market, and this is a business as well as a public institution."

But funding is also a big issue," said O'Neil, noting the market is not operationally self-sufficient" and has to keep coming on bended knee to city council to help them out at the end of the year."

Colleague Kurt Wheeler said the consultations revealed a strong interest" in having more local farmers selling their produce, an element that has waned over the years.

As well, the notion of a market cafe that would open later was a very popular idea" that emerged from the feedback, as were temporary street closures on York Boulevard for pop-up vendors," Wheeler noted.

Adequate parking is crucial to the market's success with just over half of its customers driving there, according to a survey, but the consultants also observed that an influx of residents living in the area in coming years could drive more foot, bike and transit traffic.

In an ideal world," the governance report would be up for discussion before council directed staff to pursue the physical design and layout study, Coun. Brad Clark said. I'm not saying don't do it. I'm saying the timing is off."

Coun. Esther Pauls, who served on the market board last term, expressed optimism that the reviews would lead to positive change.

I am glad we are turning the page," Pauls said, but emphasized the vendors themselves" shouldn't be left out of the equation.

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com