[URBAN NOTE] "ByWard Market food stalls in danger, report finds"

[rfmcdonald]

Can Ottawans tell me if this CBC report about the Canadian capital's iconic ByWard Market is accurate?

A U.S. consulting firm says farmer stalls at the ByWard Market could disappear unless significant changes are made to the way they're managed.

The New York-based Project for Public Spaces said in a report presented to the city last month that the market's traditional purpose — a destination for fresh, locally-grown produce — has been lost.

Instead, bars, restaurants and other businesses put the needs of tourists ahead of the needs of residents, the report finds.

Creating a private, non-profit corporation to run the market, as Montreal and London have done, is just one of the firm's recommendations.

Other ideas include free parking for shoppers who buy a certain amount of fresh food, as well as subsidized rent for local food sellers.

In the long-term, the report suggests creating a new central plaza.