New home on Baker Street secured for Wednesday market
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
The Wednesday market in the downtown core has found a new home, this time returning to the scene where they have had a measure of success.
City council approved the return of the well traveled market to the 400 block of Baker Street, after a failed attempt in the parking lot of the Nelson and District Community Complex two years ago, as well as a stint on Josephine and hall streets.
However, there were four complaints registered on the requested location for 2011, a City staff report read, one from a citizen and three from businesses from the 300 block of Baker Street.
The West Kootenay EcoSociety, the operator of the market, surveyed 28 businesses on the 400 block of Baker Street prior to the recommendation and found 24 in favour of the market, with two recorded as neutral and two opposed.
“I’m not surprised we don’t have consensus downtown from businesses,” said Coun. Kim Charlesworth. “But the atmosphere that was created in the downtown on Wednesdays last year was beneficial for all businesses.”
The Nelson Business Association said they were happy with the location of the market in general, said Coun. Marg Stacey.
“But I did see a dog or two among the vendors last year,” she said.
The lack of washrooms for the market may be solved as well, Coun. Stacey added. An agreement is in place to use the Nelson Trading Company’s washrooms for public use during the market Wednesdays.
The market has been operating since 2004. This year it begins June 15 and runs until Sept. 28 — an extension of two weeks over last year — from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on each Wednesday.
