Preserve the Midtown Farmers Market at Midtown Station
Project History & Summary
Since 2003, the Midtown Farmers Market (MFM) has connected locally produced food and goods with 40,000 customers per season at 2225 East Lake Street on a surface parking lot owned by Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). The Midtown Farmers Market was conceived by local residents and is operated by the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (CNO). The MFM currently operates one day a week from May to June, and two days a week from June through October.
The Midtown Farmers Market is one of 5,000 urban farmers markets currently operating in city neighborhoods and towns across the country. Farmers markets function as a vital economic and social link between urban families and the farmers and craftspeople of the surrounding agricultural region. Accordingly, the Midtown Farmers Market was a keystone element of the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan (Plan), which calls for a mix of housing, retail/office, structured/underground parking, and public open space. This citizen generated Plan was adopted by the City Council as part of the Minneapolis Plan in 2002.
Given development pressures and the pending sale of the 6-1/2 acre site by the school district, residents look forward to the opportunity to realize the Plan and create a permanent home for the Midtown Farmers Market at 2225 East Lake on a public square, plaza, or mall shared within a larger mixed-use, transit oriented development adjacent to the Lake Street LRT station, with nearby connections to the Midtown Greenway bikeway, bus transit, and a proposed Midtown Greenway trolley line. To remain successful, the Midtown Farmers Market needs a permanent, no-cost lease agreement and assurance of uninterrupted operation during construction.
Site Recap Presentation
Midtown Farmers Market News
Resources for advocates, designers, and public officials
Press
Timeline
1999 Local government begins comprehensive land use planning around the future Lake/Midtown light rail transit station.
2001 Residents convene for professionally facilitated community workshops that refine previous planning efforts with a focus on several sites including 2225 East Lake.
2002 The resulting Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan imagines a diverse, pedestrian-oriented mix of housing and commercial uses, with increased building heights and densities balanced by public open space such as a farmers market.
2002 Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan adopted by the CNO Board and General Membership, and the Minneapolis City Council.
2002 In keeping with the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan’s call for Working Groups to implement “Key First Step Projects,” a citizen committee researches and prepares to launch a public market.
2003 Residents open the Midtown Public Market (now Midtown Farmers Market).
2004 Hiawatha light rail begins operation.
2005 City updates zoning by parcel.
2008 Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) announces plans to relocate Anishinabe Academy and sell the property for redevelopment.
2009 CNO sends a letter to public officials reaffirming the principles of the Corcoran Midtown Revival Plan
2009 With the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), CNO conducts a research study of transit-oriented farmers markets while engaging residents, public officials, and developers to ensure the conversation about redevelopment includes citizen-identified priorities such as strong pedestrian connections to light rail and sustainable development.
2010 …an initiative to preserve the Market makes Hennepin County’s capital investment platform, as well as the Minnesota Senate’s, serving to elevate the profile of these issues.
2010 Resident Task Force completes 6 design charettes with prospective development team, a diverse, pedestrian-oriented mix of housing, retail/office space, and Market Square.
2010 June: CNO and CURA begin a research study on demand and supply of public parking in the context of redevelopment.
2010 June: MPS invites CNO committees to collaborate on its Request for Proposals draft.
2010 August: Request for Proposals issued.
2010 September: CNO and CURA complete research project on parking, release report.
2010 December: Minneapolis school board votes in favor of L&H Station Group’s redevelopment plan, which includes space for the Midtown Farmers Market.
2011 June: new resident Task Force begins meeting with L&H Station Group to refine site plan.