By Malcolm Curtis, Victoria Times Colonist, 18 October 2005
Ben urged the establishment of a permanent year-round public market for downtown Victoria
The City of Victoria’s downtown advisory committee wants to see a permanent public marketplace in the city centre.
Two earlier attempts 20 years ago failed in part because too few people lived downtown, but that trend is changing.
The advisory committee cites Seattle’s Pike Street and Vancouver’s Granville Island markets, which have become destination attractions, as possible models.
“We think Victoria may have the possibility of that (destination phenomenon) happening in the future,” said Shannon Renault, who chairs the downtown advisory committee.
A report from the committee calls for a feasibility study to determine the needed population to support such a market.
The advisory group also wants to see the market privately managed and run in a way that doesn’t directly compete with downtown retailers.
It recommends the Downtown Victoria Business Association, Tourism Victoria and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce be involved in developing appropriate guidelines.
Ben Isitt, the Victoria Civic Electors candidate for mayor in the Nov. 19 election, has made establishment of a downtown public market part of his platform.
Victoria last had similar markets more than 20 years ago when two operations opened and folded within a short time.
The Victoria Public Market at 508 Discovery St. began in June 1983 after $100,000 worth of renovations. It closed after a few weeks because of competition from the larger Harbour Public Market, launched with 43,000 square feet of space at 1810 Store St.
Victoria-based Oak Crest Park Estates and Fraser River Markets Ltd. ploughed $250,000 into upgrading the premises but it shut down after three and half years.
A temporary public market operates in downtown Victoria on Sundays during the summer in the 1600-block of Government Street.
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe, council’s downtown liaison, said her support of a permanent market depends on where it is located.
“Rock Bay I could see as a possibility,” she said.
Because of its potential impact on the vibrancy of Chinatown merchants, “I would have some concern” if it was too close to that historic precinct, she said.
Council referred the public market issue to a steering committee for the downtown plan, currently under review.
