What does this mean for the Broadway Market?

The idea of having a public market down in Canal Side has been part of the mix ever since development plans have been drawn and redrawn for the project.

I know other cities have multiple markets and Buffalo already has its share of various markets around town, but I worry that something like this would seriously impact any long term plans to revitalize the Broadway Market.

It makes me wonder if our Market is truly a priority.

Why would Buffalo want to create a new public market while we have one here in B-F that needs some TLC and is critical for future revitalization of the business district?


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25 thoughts on “What does this mean for the Broadway Market?

  1. You know as well as I do that the waterfront public market will never happen. Also, were you operating under the assumption that the Broadway Market was a priority for the city?

  2. Funny how the drawing of the market building looks very much like the old Broadway Market (not the cardboard box the building is now).

    Why should the Broadway Market be a priority in terms of Buffalo’s future?

    Really, why?

  3. The Broadway Market is clearly not a priority for the city, but in the same vein, who can articulate what ARE the priorities for the city? City hall doesn’t even have one pet issue, much less a list of priorities.

  4. The market should be a priority. It is a core element in the fabric of the neighborhood with places like the central terminal.

    Josh: The building in the picture looks like a wegmans more than the old market building. It is fake history. Are you opposed to making the market a priority to help the neighborhood. Why is the east side always looked over or scoffed at when prioritizing projects.

  5. @ Mary: You really like the building the Broadway Market is in now? How is that building historical or architecturally signifcant? It looks like a 1950s bus barn.

    Did you ever actually look at a photo or drawing of the old Broadway Market?

    Compared to the waterfront drawing, I’ve never seen a Wegman’s with that much brick or so many windows.

    The Central Terminal is empty and a cash cow, however architecturally and historically significant it is.

    Please consider attempting to answer your own questions.

  6. Josh:

    Building aside, you don’t think the Broadway Market’s history is significant enough I take it.

    Is how a building looks the only qualification to make it significant or historical?

    Is a prefab brick Benderson monstrosity somehow significant to you historically?

    The larger question here is why wouldn’t you want to see the Broadway Market survive and be better to help bolster one of Buffalo’s struggling neighborhoods.

    Consider more substantive answers before you reply.

  7. Yes, the history of the BM is significant. What about it’s future? History is in the making, not just something in the past.

    I gather you think cinderblock is not to be considered a monstrosity?

    I was hoping you’d point out the mistake of referring to the Broadway Market as a “cash cow.”

  8. Steve Davies mentioned in his presentation in regards to an update of the Project for Public spaces a significant asset of Broadway Market is “I’m still here”. There has been a public market on the site since 1888. This is a history to be celebrated.

    As to the present building, it is shame that the pre-1950 could not have been renovated instead of being rebuilt. But that presents another opportunity. The current structure is the only 1950s public market structure in the country.

    The waterfront proposed public market building appears to be modified from the Chippewa – Washington market. No matter what it will not be a historic structure.

    The proposed development is more of a festive market concept adopted from Rouse’s Baltimore project. North Market in Columbus and the Milwaukee Market serve the tourism crowd, but with the loss of history, they are not as successful as West Side Market in Cleveland or Findlay Market in Cincinnati.

    A public market serves a public purpose not just to attract tourism. Given the associated cost of the proposed waterfront market, prices will be higher for fresh fruits and vegetables and the meat products than the Broadway Market. The waterfront market is designed to bring back higher income residents to the central business district. It is not designed in the vein of a historic public market.

    The focus should be on making, and that translates for the Broadway Market on what strategies and steps (incremental) could be taken to make it vibrant 12 months of the year not just Easter Season.

  9. Great responses folks! There needs to be a higher level conversation about the Market and its direction to really define a course of action and plan.

  10. Seems like Josh is way too excited about canal side. Last time I looked, that area was dead and disintegrated down there too.

    It is okay to revitalize one area that you like and not okay to revitalize an area that you don’t. As long as you can have your Chipotle or The Melting Pot, I guess life is Jim Dandy for you.

    I like the way Beverly lays it out.

  11. So let’s all forget waterfront development, Thomas! That’s real progressive, forward thinking! The reality is that there are only so many dollars. Choose your poison or elixir, as the case may be. Chipotle? Maybe what you don’t want to see is kielbasa being sold anywhere else but the BM? You prefer ghettoization, maybe?

  12. The crux of the issue is how do we make it vibrant all year round.

    I think even a downtown market will have that problem considering that winter is a 6 month affair here.

    And I disagree with Bev on the West Side Market in Cleveland. It is a tourist and regional destination in Cleveland. The Broadway Market is going to have a draw from the regional and tourist base to help it succeed and can’t simply rely on being a neighborhood market. This is where the waterfront market could hurt the Broadway Market.

    The key is finding a model that works for the Broadway Market.

  13. The real concern should be devoted to how waterfront development will impact the preservation of the K-Mart across from the Broadway Market. It is an excellent example of 1980s retail architecture. It is located on the historic 998 Broadway site. That building presents a golden opportunity that should not be squandered. As has been shown by Bev, a food market on the waterfront should pose no problem to the Broadway Market because prices will be higher at the former and the two business establishments will attract different clienteles. The Broadway Market should be devoted to serving the public, the people of Broadway-Fillmore, not the fairweather visitors who only show up at Eastertime! So let’s stop squabbling and fight to bring K-Mart back to Broadway-Fillmore!

  14. Chris this is when BFA is at its very best. Starting conversations about crucial issues in the neighborhood.

    After speaking with you at the Broadway Market clean up, I got the sense that you have a good idea on what needs to be done at the market and how to get there.

    Keep up the good work.

  15. @Paul thanks…and thanks for coming out to the Market!!!

    There is a lot of work to be done.

    ——

    @Market Vendor I have given leeway in your previous posts and your desire for anonymity…but…going forward, unless you back up what you are talking about in regards to other people who post, etc…I will not let your comments come through without you putting your real name on things.

  16. It is great to continue having these conversations…..but somehow everyone’s energies need to be focused on the Mayor and the Council President.

    They must commit SERIOUSLY to the market….money for management STAFF, programming, community involvement like the rooftop garden, facilities like a community kitchen, security, maintenance and improvements.

    Time for less talk more community action…….a sit in at each of their offices…. a demonstration in front of their houses…….community mailings…..Media appearances…….getting them to a community forum with media……appear at each of their events with signs…..find out who donates to them and boycott them or demonstrate in front of their houses……appear at every Council meetings and speak out…..time to REV IT UP!!!!!!

  17. Fran,

    you misintrepreted my comment. It is because of the history and the integration of the West Side Market and Findlay Market with their surrounding neighborhoods that they are not just a neighborhood, but a regional and tourist market. On a typical Saturday, you can’t move at West Side. It serves a double purpose. Whereas, North Market and Milwaukee are less embedded to a surrounding community. Their new locations are less than 10 years. They are both located in the downtown area (near the convention center in case of North) And, it is an issue of building up a twelve months of activities.

    I think you made a great comment.

  18. Market, market, market! What’s so great about the market? I’d rather have a K-mart — and a decent supermarket with bargains. What about a big WalMart?

  19. What long term plans are there to revitalize the Broadway Market?

    The success of the Cinncinnati Findlay Market was predicated upon an initial $16 million investment (taxpayer money) by the city government in 2004 (and more after that).

    What plans are there to allocate how many millions of dollars to the Broadway Market by the city government of Buffalo?

    Just askin’.

  20. I’m bullish on the future of the Broadway Market and surrounding neighborhood — and the PPS plan as a roadmap for how to do it. What I saw in Cleveland a couple weeks ago reinforces that, and also gives a sense of urgency.

    Adding to that urgency is the market shown in this Canalside plan, which is a sign that we’re likely moving toward a time where there may again be markets in various parts of the city — and I don’t just mean farmers’ markets, but market buildings as neighborhood anchors. While having other markets in the city won’t necessarily spell the end of the Broadway Market (rather, in my mind, they would signal a major revival of urbanism which would be a great thing for all parts of the city), they would mean competition and loss of exclusivity. If additional markets are indeed created elsewhere in the city like Canalside, it will be all the more important for the Broadway Market to be viable, and on the way up rather than on the way down.

    Also, keep in mind that there are two alternatives shown for that Canalside market parcel: the year-round indoor market building, and an outdoor market which would likely be more seasonal. What ultimately happens could be either, neither, or a mix.

    BTW, seeing the proposed market in the Canalside plans, I also immediately thought about what that might mean for the Broadway Market. Thanks, Chris, for getting the great discussion rolling!

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