Collegiate Times

There's nothing like a well functioning market to make an economist feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, and there is nothing like fresh produce and baked goods to make a starving college student feel loved. The Blacksburg Farmers Market, which has been operating for years on the corner of Draper Road and Roanoke Street, is considering a face lift.

The Friends of the Farmers Market, a local non-profit club, called a meeting Wednesday evening at the Blacksburg Police Department to discuss a developing concept for redesigning the Farmers Market space.

The Friends of the Farmers Market began as a volunteer club to help with the operation of the market. In 2003, the town of Blacksburg officially handed over management of the market to the club and a Board of Directors was formed including vendors, local citizens and representatives from the town. Through this group, vendors and patrons were able to voice their concerns about sustainability, quality and growth.

With the growth in popularity of the farmers' market, several vendors and patrons expressed that the current space could be improved both in terms of sustainability and functionality.

As a result, Virginia Tech architecture professor Kathryn Albright began a study of other markets and vendor preferences in order to determine the best way to address the need.

Nearly 50 people packed in a small room meant for no more than 30 or 35, attentively listening to Albright's proposal. The walls were lined with renderings made by students, and there was even a scale 3-D model at the front of the room.

"It's really exciting that so many people came out," said Jenny Schwanke, marketing director of the Friends of the Farmers Market. Her husband is a vendor who sells wooden bowls.

The proposal includes 11 pavilions made from sustainable timber, an improvement of the alleyways behind the old parking lot and a public park in the middle of the space. The pavilions were designed to be aesthetically pleasing and to better protect patrons and vendors from the elements.

"To me, it's really about having a civic gathering place," Albright said. She noted that many of the vendors make a living out of the market. According to Albright, the place should provide an adequate space to make that living as well as an area for public discourse in the times that market is not operating.

At the meeting, the concerns of several citizens were discussed. Among those concerns was a tree that may or may not need to be cut down in order to execute the proposal. Also, some citizens were concerned about the downtown parking situation.

"Let me just say, as a local merchant who will probably be most affected by the parking issue, the benefits of this far outweigh the prospects of losing a few spaces," said Mike Soriano, owner of Champs Restaurant and Sports Bar.

Other items discussed included the design of the public park space. Several citizens expressed the preference for versatility. While some were interested in having space to display art, others wanted seating and the possibility of bringing in a portable stage for live music.

The land in question is owned and will continue to be owned by the Town of Blacksburg. A comprehensive cost estimate has not yet been reached, but the funds will be raised almost entirely from private donors. If all goes smoothly, construction could begin as early as the fall of 2009.

Until that time comes, the market will operate on its regular schedule. All are welcome to support the local farmers and artisans every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot on the corner of Roanoke Street and Draper Road.