Dalhousie Community Association hopes to turn this federally owned property into a farmer’s market.
The Preston Street Business Improvement Area is exploring plans to turn an unused federal government building complex into a year-round farmers’ market.
BIA executive director Lori Mellor says she’s waiting for a consent letter from Public Works and Government Services Canada – which currently owns the complex – to start an outdoor market this summer.
She says the long-term goal is to operate year-round, but this year there will only be a trial market to determine the demand for this kind of service in the area.
The large complex is located west of Preston Street running along the O-Train line from Gladstone Avenue to Somerset Street.
It was being saved for federal government office space, but the mandate for the complex has since changed, and Public Works is now open to other uses. However, an environmental assessment needs to be done before the Preston Street BIA can access the space.
“There’s a lot of bureaucratic red tape that needs to be cut through to get it into our own hands,” says Mellor.
Mellor plans to have fruit and vegetables from local farmers. There would also be seasonal products such as plants, pumpkins and Christmas trees. She says it could include a flea or antique market on weekends as well.
Heather Hossie, co-ordinator of Savour Ottawa, a group that promotes local agricultural products, says there are many benefits to farmers’ markets. Not only do they provide growers with a sales outlet and financial stability, they also help build a local economy.
“You’re keeping more of the dollars within the region, which can then create more job opportunities,” Hossie says.
Mellor says a farmers’ market in the Preston Street area would also help to diversify what attracts people to the neighbourhood.
“We’re a business association so it’s in our interest to have things other than restaurants to draw customers to the area,” she says.
Joe Calabro, owner of Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana at the corner of Preston and Larch streets, says a market would be good for business because it would bring more people into the community.
He adds that the restaurant scene will benefit by having easy access to fresh produce and food.
Mellor says there were many different inspirations for the market. She says she’s long loved the idea of a farmers’ market from her time visiting the ones in Vancouver and Toronto. Another motivation, she says, is the fact there is no grocery store in the Preston Street area.
“You have to have a car to live in this area right now because you can’t get groceries (here),” she says.
She adds she sees it as a way to bring the community together.
“It’s a much more sustainable way to live,” she says. “And it’s just a fresher and nicer approach to how you eat.”