The problem with TGFM is that it’s just a little too stuffy and high brow for my taste
Don't get me wrong I like Tower Grove Farmers Market, and my gf is one of the volunteers that coordinates the music on the bandstand in the summer.
But Soulard Market is where I see families of immigrants getting their produce for the week. I can't say I've ever seen that at TGFM.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go. It's crazy with all the folks getting their spread of greens, yams, etc for their family feasts. It doesn't bother me that you can also buy mangoes in late November there that we all know aren't locally sourced.
Soulard can definitely use an update but count me among those who don't want to see it over-gentrified.
But Soulard Market is where I see families of immigrants getting their produce for the week. I can't say I've ever seen that at TGFM.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go. It's crazy with all the folks getting their spread of greens, yams, etc for their family feasts. It doesn't bother me that you can also buy mangoes in late November there that we all know aren't locally sourced.
Soulard can definitely use an update but count me among those who don't want to see it over-gentrified.
But it seems like there's a weird group that love the crumbling and view even needed maintenance as "gentrification",Baltimore Jack wrote: ↑Feb 13, 2023Don't get me wrong I like Tower Grove Farmers Market, and my gf is one of the volunteers that coordinates the music on the bandstand in the summer.
But Soulard Market is where I see families of immigrants getting their produce for the week. I can't say I've ever seen that at TGFM.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go. It's crazy with all the folks getting their spread of greens, yams, etc for their family feasts. It doesn't bother me that you can also buy mangoes in late November there that we all know aren't locally sourced.
Soulard can definitely use an update but count me among those who don't want to see it over-gentrified.
I imagine garage doors are among the list of improvement that would be considered gentrification, but it would be so nice to have those outdoor corridors heated during the winter. More people would patronize the market during the offseason and more vendors would stick around all winter as well.
That's... not bad? Thought it'd be more given how much maintenance has been deferred.quincunx wrote: ↑Feb 14, 2024Soulard Market capital needs. $6.5M.
Soulard Market Capital Needs 2024.png
Is this an ask for funds/statement of need? Or is the city moving forward with a plan to actually do the work?
-RBB
Yeah that seems like a worthwhile investment of $6.5M. Hopefully they can find a way to secure the funding soon.
As someone who recently got a roof replacement, the roof replacement estimate seems a bit steep. I would have expected 600-700k. Unless they are replacing a lot of decking or have some weird constraints. On second thought maybe limited to union shops drives it up?
^ its 64,000 SF of roof, you can do it as cheap as $5 per sq or as high as $30. City does have extra costs due to fair wages, W/MB participation, etc.
I have never seen wide variety of produce especially fruits and vegetables at TGFM. Soulard's, if at all, is my go to place.Baltimore Jack wrote: ↑Feb 13, 2023Don't get me wrong I like Tower Grove Farmers Market, and my gf is one of the volunteers that coordinates the music on the bandstand in the summer.
But Soulard Market is where I see families of immigrants getting their produce for the week. I can't say I've ever seen that at TGFM.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times to go. It's crazy with all the folks getting their spread of greens, yams, etc for their family feasts. It doesn't bother me that you can also buy mangoes in late November there that we all know aren't locally sourced.
Soulard can definitely use an update but count me among those who don't want to see it over-gentrified.
If we have over $100M in capital needs and opportunities to reinvigorate regional treasures like the Soulard Farmers Market why isn't this Priority 1 for the Rams money? Seems like the simplistic most effective use. Instead we were presented a biased survey that is steering the use in other directions. Needs always take precedent over wants.quincunx wrote: ↑Feb 14, 2024It's in competition with $100Ms in other capital needs.
The $6.5M for SFM is part of the red critical needs list.robertn42 wrote: ↑Feb 15, 2024If we have over $100M in capital needs and opportunities to reinvigorate regional treasures like the Soulard Farmers Market why isn't this Priority 1 for the Rams money? Seems like the simplistic most effective use. Instead we were presented a biased survey that is steering the use in other directions. Needs always take precedent over wants.quincunx wrote: ↑Feb 14, 2024It's in competition with $100Ms in other capital needs.
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Yes, that’s not a city budget captial need, just like the airport it’s run as an enterprise with its own budget.quincunx wrote: ↑Feb 15, 2024Note that lost doesn't include water infrastructure.
That price is so low, even if everything else goes towards fixing water infrastructure and giving raises city employees, the farmers market is a high visibility project that those in charge can point at and say "look what we did"
well i guess you could get to $30 a sqft if you do a tile or metal roof. With shingles the price is high. IMHO.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Feb 14, 2024^ its 64,000 SF of roof, you can do it as cheap as $5 per sq or as high as $30. City does have extra costs due to fair wages, W/MB participation, etc.
Stuff like this is why the city needs to invest in its amenities. Soulard Market has continually lost its uniqueness over the last few decades. I love Soulard Market dearly but it's old (and not in a solely charming way), kinda dirty, kinda weird and, in 2026, every damn tiny municipality has a farmers market. People are going to continue to choose the suburbs over the city when we let our urban gems degrade.Jallen26 wrote: ↑8:45 PM - Aug 13Rendering of the new City Center Complex Farmers Market and Food Hall.
I love the concept but can't help but wonder how many Food Halls our region can realistically support.
Food hall.jpg
https://jemastl.com/st-charles-food-hal ... -approved/
Yea Soulard Market should be one of the premier markets in the country as it is a genuine market and is one of the oldest in existence, rather than most of the slop farmers markets across the country you seesoulardx wrote:Stuff like this is why the city needs to invest in its amenities. Soulard Market has continually lost its uniqueness over the last few decades. I love Soulard Market dearly but it's old (and not in a solely charming way), kinda dirty, kinda weird and, in 2026, every damn tiny municipality has a farmers market. People are going to continue to choose the suburbs over the city when we let our urban gems degrade.Jallen26 wrote: ↑8:45 PM - Aug 13Rendering of the new City Center Complex Farmers Market and Food Hall.
I love the concept but can't help but wonder how many Food Halls our region can realistically support.
Food hall.jpg
https://jemastl.com/st-charles-food-hal ... -approved/
It needs a refresh and something to celebrate its history and uniqueness more
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My 2022 vision to expand Soulard Market. The square structure is more like a European plaza. Open in the middle for events or general meandering.
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Agreed, I was surprised last time I went with how it had aged. When you can't rely on being the only one in town anymore you have to invest and improve.soulardx wrote: ↑8:39 PM - Aug 14Stuff like this is why the city needs to invest in its amenities. Soulard Market has continually lost its uniqueness over the last few decades. I love Soulard Market dearly but it's old (and not in a solely charming way), kinda dirty, kinda weird and, in 2026, every damn tiny municipality has a farmers market. People are going to continue to choose the suburbs over the city when we let our urban gems degrade.Jallen26 wrote: ↑8:45 PM - Aug 13Rendering of the new City Center Complex Farmers Market and Food Hall.
I love the concept but can't help but wonder how many Food Halls our region can realistically support.
Food hall.jpg
https://jemastl.com/st-charles-food-hal ... -approved/
Increasingly, the city (and many local govs...looking at you Kirkwood and Webster), seem wholly incapable of being good stewards with tax money. How Soulard Market hasn't seen substantial investment by the city is absurd. No Rams money? it's embarrassing.Jallen26 wrote: ↑3:34 PM - Aug 17Agreed, I was surprised last time I went with how it had aged. When you can't rely on being the only one in town anymore you have to invest and improve.soulardx wrote: ↑8:39 PM - Aug 14Stuff like this is why the city needs to invest in its amenities. Soulard Market has continually lost its uniqueness over the last few decades. I love Soulard Market dearly but it's old (and not in a solely charming way), kinda dirty, kinda weird and, in 2026, every damn tiny municipality has a farmers market. People are going to continue to choose the suburbs over the city when we let our urban gems degrade.Jallen26 wrote: ↑8:45 PM - Aug 13Rendering of the new City Center Complex Farmers Market and Food Hall.
I love the concept but can't help but wonder how many Food Halls our region can realistically support.
Food hall.jpg
https://jemastl.com/st-charles-food-hal ... -approved/
As such, after being a staunch opponent to TIFs/CIDs for years, I'm come around to them. It's very transparent where that quasi tax money (from TIFs/CIDs) is going and it happens immediately. No laundering tax money through municipal government bullsh*t.