Changes on the way for 17th Street Farmers’ Market

17th Street Farmers Market by PJ Pink

Unless there is a special secret tropical zone in RVA that somehow grows bananas and pineapples the 17th Street Farmers’ Market hasn’t been a farmers’ market in many years. No real word on if that is going to change but the city is going to change the way it looks. Style Weekly quote below and the full story goes into some more of the nut and bolts changes to expect.

The city’s moving ahead with plans to radically redesign the 17th Street Farmers’ Market in Shockoe Bottom. Officials requested bids Oct. 2 from architecture and engineering companies to transform the market into “an open urban square that better relates to its immediate surroundings.”

The new space would be multi-purpose, used for things such as “public art, family activity, outdoor dining, visual and performance festivals and daily community gathering,” according to the request. The area also will continue to be used as a farmers’ market, the city says.

Will changing the look bring success? I’m doubtful. I think it is a good and necessary step but unless you give people a reason to go there it won’t matter how pretty it is.