Should Iowa City move the market?

Spring is coming (finally), and with it are new rumblings about the Iowa City Farmers Market.

Downtown business owners have asked the city to think about moving the market from a nearby parking ramp and planting it more firmly among their businesses  -- on Saturdays, at lest.

It's an idea that's come up before (former Iowa City Manager Michael Lombardo was a fan), as a possible way to help entice more people downtown. Some folks wondered last time why market vendors would be so defensive of their regular space in -- of all things -- a parking ramp.

Wouldn't it be a nicer atmosphere to have the market in the heart of downtown, in the shadow of the Old Capitol dome, business owners say. You could have more room, maybe those nice-looking tents... But as vendors will tell you while it might not win any beauty contests, the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp on Washington Street has a lot going for it.

It's got shade from the sun and protection from the rain.

It's got plenty of parking and is close to downtown and residential neighborhoods.

There's a nice park next door where kids can run around and musicians can set up to entertain the crowds.

But I keep thinking about a third way, a possibility raised by a vendor who called the other day to educate me a bit about the issue.

She'd been looking at the city's plans for Riverfront Crossings -- the SoBur "green district" proposed for the south side of downtown. Specifically, she was looking at that greyed out civic space in the planning diagrams -- which could be used for a nice-looking, accessible, roomy and sheltered space...

It could make a lot of sense: green streets, renewable energy, walkable neighborhood,  permanent, year-round farmers market.

Drop me a line and tell me what you think.