A permanent, year-round downtown public market could take another step forward Monday night if councillors accept a business plan on the idea.
The market pavillion would be in the Maple Avenue Transit Terminal building along with a recently proposed Sandbox Entrepreneurship Centre and Business Knowledge Exchange.
To address parking concerns for the market, the city would hold off on possible plans to sell a city-owned parking lot directly across the street at 26 Mary Street.
The public market would consist primarily of local farmer vendors and locally prepared and manufactured food.
Market vendors would need to be owner-operated to ensure a 'unique, one-of-a-kind retailing atmosphere' according to the staff report.
The Terminal building would require a 'moderate renovation' and construction of a new Farmers Market structure.
The 2nd floor of the building is currently vacant; the ground floor location of the previous Burger King is vacant, along with a majority of the ground floor open space.
The building presently houses a Barrie Police detachment, a convenience store and the transit terminal ticket booths.
"The transit terminal building in this scope has the potential to become an important public indoor/outdoor community gathering place for Barrie while benefiting local entrepreneurs, organizations, and small businesses," the report states.
"The building would become an attraction and destination that would bring more visitors and residents to the City, downtown, and the waterfront."
The motion councillors will consider Monday is that staff advance the Barrie Permanent Public Market Project by procuring a consultant team for an estimated cost of $100,000 - a request to be included as an addendum to the 2017 Capital Plan - to complete a financial and technical validation of the Downtown Barrie Permanent Public Market Business Plan.
Staff would report back to General Committee prior to summer recess of 2017 with a comprehensive execution plan.
The motion also states that the Sandbox Entrepreneurship Centre and Business Knowledge Exchange concept as presented to General Committee on Dec. 12, 2016 be approved in principle, and used to guide the development of a business plan.
The working group for the market includes councillors Barry Ward and Rose Romita, along with representatives of the Business Improvement Area (BIA), Tourism Barrie, the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce, Barrie's Arts and Culture Council and city staff.
Mayor Lehman has said adapting the bus terminal would be a multi-step process that includes relocating Ontario Northland, GO and Greyhound buses away from the downtown site.
