Buffalorising has been redesigned.

congrats on your progress so far newell. I hope this becomes a reality for everyones sake.

A number of friends and I talked about this two years ago and finally the officials can see it! I hope they can make this work because this is exciting!

I know that I will take on criticism for this but, how about moving the Broadway Market to this location? The Broadway Market is not profitable at its present location and is being subsidized by the city. The move would serve a broader spectrum of people down town, plus the D&L Terminal is closer to exits off the I190. I would think if there was a Market put in the D&L Terminal, which I think is a great idea, I am afraid the Broadway Market days would be numbered. So let’s just move it.

With the Broadway Market in relatively close proximity to the Central Terminal and the potential development plans that can go with it, they probably should stay put for now. Toronto has both the Kensington and St. Lawrence markets, right?
Portions of the market with fish and meat could utilize the natural refrigeration of the lake in winter. This could also be a great send-off point for tours of the river and the Black Rock channel in summer.

This type of community based organizing and development is exactly what BRO is meant for!

Wow- talk about a site with potential. Great work. That is true community in action right there.

Here's a pat on the back to the NFTA for defying past practice and stereotype and responding to the community. Full speed ahead!

Keep the dream alive.
http://tinyurl.com/2t3y3a

Anthony C. reports from the Product Committee that there is interest from FOUR local bookstores and a coffee shop regarding the market idea.

Having just visited Seattle and after hanging out in the world famous Public Market there, this makes so much sense. This could be fun. Great job!

I can imagine it now... roof top patio parties celebrating the Sabres run for the stanley cup!!!!!!

Oh, for Christ's sake, get real!

Buffalo is still so far away from the density/"demographic profile"/market reality/psychological commitment to make this happen

Perry, in case you didn't notice... they're making it real. This isn't an artistic rendering or a rumor of a deal or development to come. They're doing it.

Newell, in Detroit, the Eastside Market is a long-standing and huge attraction downtown on Saturady's - traffic is literally backed up on the freeways to exit as suburbanites flow in. I think this site is perfect - Lila and I go down frequently to Eastern Market and I'm sure - were we still in Buffalo, we would be drawwn to your vision. Cool idea, great space and I'm sur ewith the right mix of vendors it would be successful. Here, we have organic farmers, guys who are just re-selling bulk veggies and fruits, local orchards and farms, floral guys, tress, shrrubs, coffee, you name it. It's unique here and a lot of businesses have sprung up around it creating headquarters in the neighborhood. And trust me, Detroit is way closer to Buffalo than it is to Seattle - blue collar, gritty, and Eastern Market is a real melting pot of people on Saturday mornings in an otherwise racially divided city. Good luck with the vision...

what are thry doing? So far it's talk. Where is the financial backing? 4 used bookstores isn't going to pay for heating the place. But first it needs a furnace.

A detailed plan needs to be developed for this great space. The potential here is fantastic.

to clarify...interest from TWO and maybe three bookstores and also a coffee shop...still, that is a great start and I myself might want to put some stock in there as well as other folks who are currently selling online...

the site looks great...I hope it ends up being viable

Vavoom- the post above says the plan is to start with an outdoor market on the large patio in the summer and then use the money generated to work on the inside for a year round facility.

I will be so happy the day something occurs - Anyone hear anything about the Genesee St. buldings (off the 33)?

I think it is a good site and a good idea. What I feel would need to happen to sure it becomes a success is to not think of this as an "attraction" but as a place to buy food and groceries. Healthier, fresher and local foods that are seasonal and therefore taste the best. I think we have forgotten what a good tomatoe is supposed to taste like in America. When you import everything from Brazil and California yea it is nice to get tomatoes in winter but they taste downright crappy.

The Broadway Market became too much of an attraction and not enough of a day to day staple and thats where it has failed to change with the times. This market should work with the Broadway market perhaps to provide a second location for any interested parties.

It would be nice if people stopped by a place like this after work and brought fresh foods home instead of hitting up Weggies or Tops, fine institutions but neither of them support our economy, health or culture as much as a popular market would.

Food security is also a growing concern, transporting food 1,500 miles (average distance American food travels before your hitting your plate) uses a lot of energy and opens the door for rot, contamination and even, I hate using the term, terrorist activities; but if it will get people to think about the food they buy and where they buy it from so be it.

what about turning vacant lots into mini farms like what the Massachusetts Ave project is doing. The east side is rip with lands that could be brought back into productive use since we are not going through any population explosion soon it would provide opportunities for people to learn how to take care of themselves, eat healthier and even make some money as long as they had a place to sell their good... like this market

I just recently talked to one of the people who run the green growing program at M.A.P. I think it really is an amazing program and should be expanded because it has involved kids, promoted a better diet and has started something like 40 businesses that employ 90 people (I could be wrong, working from my memory here) Thats almost 5 times the new Labatts Headquarters and they definitely don't make as much money.. but it is providing people with the knowledge and chance to take care of themselves which gets them off of the welfare systems and instills values in the children.

something to think about, food, markets, vacant land, jobs! I love the potential here!

I hate to say it, but this sonds like an elevated flea market. Nothing wrong with that . Actually , on second thought, it may end up attracting more people than some big name retailers... At least on weekends, Actually, on third thought, it may be a great pick-up joint..

Great location if the space can be filled, 70,000 sq ft ?
It sounds expensive, who's going to pay for elevators and new windows? The cost of a space should be kept low or the vendors will not come.

The DL&W terminal is long gone.... demo'd many years ago to make the street level entrace for the toy trains. Too bad, as it was a beautiful building. Although much smaller in scale, it was every bit as grand as BCT was. What remains today of DL&W is the shed and passanger concourse.

Weggies or Tops, fine institutions but neither of them support our economy, health or culture as much as a popular market would.

Ridiculous statement.

Wegmans is a local WNY headquartered company, buys a huge portion of its produce locally, has a renowned world-class work environment, and provides absolutely GREAT support for our economy in terms of jobs, low prices, and a huge range of in-demand products. Certainly one can eat extremely heathfully with food from there. Even culturally it's perfectly fine, not that it should be a high priority for them but it's a very pleasant place to spend some time.

Tops, lower qualtity across the board but still makes very positive contributions to our economy, sells plenty of heathy food, buys much produce locally, all that.

The "popular market", best of luck to it if it happens and I'm sure it coould do a few things better than the larger stores. But it's very far fetched that it would end up supporting our economy even 1% as much as Wegmans or Tops do.

The statement that it'd "support our economy" even more than Wegmans or Tops is beyond clueless.

I want to say this is a great idea... but is this such a great idea?

The Broadway Market is nearby and already on last legs. Any competition here would certainly sign its death sentence.

As far as fresh foods and produce, most people would need more of a reason than "this is a beautiful space" to drive past the Co-Op or Wegmans to go all the way down to the waterfront for a few groceries.

Perhaps the Broadway Market should be moved here? I just can't imagine in my wildest dreams droves of people driving down to the arena area on a weekend to pick up groceries. Perhaps when (if?) the area becomes (much) more densly populated...

Oh... and what about the various farmers' markets that spring up during warm weather?

I hate to be a wet blanket here, I just don't think the area can support another food market. The space in question can be SO MUCH MORE....

Newell,
Count me in for whatever helpI can provide.

Newell,
Whatever I can do to help.

Even though I prefer to shop at the Co-op, I gotta back up Starbuck. Wegman's is headquartered in Rochester and is one of the largest privately-owned businesses in the US. Regularly gets awards for being a good workplace. Tops is Dutch-owned (last I knew), but is unionized, meaning that you can actually earn a living wage there. So much for unions destroying competitiveness--or else Wegmans would have put it out of business years ago.

Light flurries (?) - Union = Living wage? What does non-union equal to you? Wegmans is consistently one of the top companies in the US to work for, it is recognized internationally as a model for retail markets, and their benefits are extraordinary. Wegmans is thriving in this environment, while TOPS is struggling to remain in existence. Wegmans contributed to the consolidation and closure of Bells, Super Duper, more than a dozen TOPS markets, and a host of Quality markets. Wegmans provides superior service, products and a remarkable experience. When was the last time you saw people camping outside a TOPS market waiting for the grand opening? Thought so. TOPS is putting themselves out of business, try reading Business First once in awhile.

Sbrof,

You're talking about a year-round growing facility? Greenhouses? How about a part of the LTV site featured in a recent post? Travel distance to DLW would be maybe two miles?

I have to disagree that this market would wipe out the competition of other markets. The one on Elmwood (Bidwell, actually) is pretty much over with by early afternoon and the one downtown is on what, Thursdays. These are both great, but this place would probably be open on Saturdays and hopefully during the afternoon as well.

Also, the market on Bidwell usually attracts a lot of people who live within walking distance, and the downtown market attracts workers downtown who might pick up some fruit during their lunch break. The new market would target people all over the region, and longer hours and a bigger market with more variety would make the half hour drive from Clarence worth it.

As for the Broadway Market, I don't know what to say about that. They get the majority of their business around Easter, and I think that would continue. As for the rest of the year, I'm not really sure.

In Rochester there are plenty of various "farmers markets" throughout the city every weekend and during the week. Yet the market downtown also exists and thrives and so do the others.

I thought this was going to be a flea-market, not a farmers market
Guercios on Grant St. is the best place to go for vegetables...

Ok, let's start with the very first phrase...

It's still a pipe dream...

There is your first problem right there. Why not take your original market idea and start off with something small and manageable?

Pick somewhere people are already well familiar with as a public gathering space, something like Lafayette Sq.? As wonderful as the DL&W is, I would bet a majority of area denizens have no clue where or what is it, much less where to park or walk from. Being tucked behind the HSBC Arena really obscures the building's visibility. And, need I mention the unbearable stink that becomes wafts about the air when wandering around back there?

Like I said, start small, seasonal, grass-roots, yada yada yada. If it becomes a success in the initial stage, then you'll know the market is viable and can be taken to the next level in a bigger, hopefully enclosed venue.

Stick to downtown proper for now. A common problem with a lot of the ideas on this site is that people want to push the boundaries of a downtown that still has too many holes in its fabric that desperately need to be filled in first. Don't bite off more than you can chew...

When I was little (during the 80s), my father used to take us boating down the canal. What a different perspective you got of the building. It is gorgeous. The big windows, the turn of the century architecture--you felt as if you were stepping back into time. I can only imagine what it would look like with people sitting at tables, standing along the railing, chating, eating, shopping along the water. This is a fantastic idea--out of all the ideas that are brought up on this site, I would absolutely love if this one came to fruition.

Go for it, it sounds like a great idea to me!

Can someone clarify who is the marketing committee that is working on the DLW project? I am interested in taking part in this discussion if possible. I have developed my Thesis around this building and would love to continue this discussion. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

for anyone who wishes to see a successful public market which serves its neighborhood, local chefs and restauranteurs, and attracts visitors from the city,the suburbs, and out of towners alike, then visit rochester's. tues, thurs, saturday.
if a very vibrant market can exist amidst one of rochester's worst neighborhoods, it can certainly mix into downtown buffalo.

get it done!