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December 22, 2008
Dear Public
Market friends, old and new --
Some of you
have been supporters for years, others are just now getting interested
in our work to establish a year-round
indoor
Public Market in Portland. For all of you, we have news and
a request for your help.
We have acquired
the right, in perpetuity, to the name "The
James Beard Public Market." With the enthusiastic
support of the James Beard Foundation in New York, we can
now create
a lasting commemoration of Beard that he would have loved,
where shoppers and chefs from throughout the metropolitan
area will
expand
their contact with local growers and producers and experience
the incredible bounty of this region. This will be a fitting
tribute
to one of Portland's most influential native sons.
And after
years of searching for a site, we are now pursuing one that offers
an incomparable opportunity: the west
end of the Morrison
Bridge. This County-owned property sits along the waterfront,
central to downtown workers and shoppers, with abundant
nearby parking
and easy access by MAX from all parts of the region.
Picture
two graceful pavilions nestled into the arcs of the cloverleaf
ramps, connected by a market hall under
the bridge;
the design
will allow for a large number of permanent vendor stalls
as well as seasonal day tables. Our private development
partner, Melvin
Mark Development Company, proposes constructing an
iconic high rise that will create the Market's front door on
SW
Second Avenue.
The ground floor arcade, filled with fresh food and
flowers, will beckon guests toward a covered pedestrian bridge
crossing the MAX
tracks and leading to a grand entrance between the
two
pavilions. We'll even have a place for Portlandia where
she'll be visible
from all sides, reaching toward the river. The following
architectural drawing will give you an idea of what
the pavilions and high
rise might look like, though this is just one of many
possible designs:
Multnomah County is offering the property for sale
in a competitive process in early 2009. They have
made no
commitments
to our
proposal but are clearly intrigued by this creative
use of a difficult
to develop parcel.
In this time
of economic turmoil and political change, the Market is emerging
as one of the most
promising
projects able to accomplish
many simultaneous goals: stimulating the local
food economy, building wealth for local companies, bridging
and strengthening
rural and
urban communities, and creating an iconic riverfront
landmark.
At this crucial
moment for the James Beard Public Market, we ask you to make
a year-end contribution
to the Market's
non-profit
entity, The Historic Portland Public Market Foundation,
helping us to broaden our base of support as we
begin seeking capital
funds
from corporate and charitable foundation sources.
Such funders want to see a history of sustained
support from the community,
so your contribution before the end of this year
will
have particular impact.
It's easy
to contribute: either on line at www.portlandpublicmarket.com
or by check to:
The Historic
Portland Public Market Foundation
P.O. Box 511
Portland, Oregon 97207
And don't
forget that your contribution qualifies as a match for the Oregon
Cultural Trust. (See
www.culturaltrust.org for details.)
With heartfelt
appreciation for your support and warmest wishes for the holidays,
Amelia
Hard, President
Ron Paul, Consulting Director
Click
here to learn more about Boyd's special James Beard coffee.
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Click
here to donate by credit card.
Portland
Tribune:
January, 2009
Market Hungry for Bridge Site
Click
for details
Daily
Journal of Commerce:
January, 2009
Market Targets Multnomah County Property
Click
for details
Portland
Business Journal:
December, 2008
Public Market Explores West End of Morrison Bridge
Click
for details
Portland
Tribune:
April, 2008
Public Market Secures James Beard Naming Rights
Click
for details
Portland
Business Journal:
March, 2008
Public Market Must Continue Search for Home
Click
for details
Click
for archive
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