Downtown outdoor spaces

[ac3r]

I agree.  It is too bad that the Market Village didn't thrive as a commercial area, although it's better than nothing that some of the houses have been renovated recently for residential use.  I think the Market Lane itself would be a good place for an arts and crafts or flea market on Saturdays in the good weather.  Or maybe something different, like a monthly used book market.

If you follow the local art scene in the region you may have noticed the new gallery that opened up in the market building recently. Quite a few of us involved in art and design are hoping to rekindle a culture of art in this side of downtown. That lane would be perfect if some shared studio space could be opened up for established and upcoming artists. It has the perfect sort of feel for it. Sadly, it's incredibly expensive. I can recall being a brand new 18 year old long ago trying to find anything that I could afford and call a studio, that was bigger than a closet...it's hard!

That said there is a lot of potential on that side of downtown for more cultural stuff to develop over the years. Think Kensington in Toronto. That is, if the city doesn't keep driving everyone out in hopes to reel in more rich kids from the tech sector. Gentrification will really hurt the inner city in there long run if there is no focus on both mid to low income housing and cultural investment.