Plans for a Madison public market move forward, again

It is an idea that has been circling Madison for a decade. A Madison public marketplace, featuring local foods and goods, has been on and off of the city's agenda since Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's first term began in 2003.

A feasibility study was produced in 2004 yet a market is still years away from breaking ground, if it ever does. What's the hold up? The market has been an ever-changing vision and building one involves many decisions and many expenses.

Both the proposed location and the purpose for the market have changed several times. Some changes follow electoral cycles, others meet shifting foci of the market discussion.

"Everybody likes the idea," said Barry Orton, vice chair of the city's Local Food Committee. "But, everybody's idea is different."

Location for the market has always been a sticking point in the for-or-against battle. Some believe a downtown site would ensure the viability of the market while others think it should be located in a neighborhood that needs increased economic activity.

Until Gov. Scott Walker canceled plans for a high speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee, the future downtown Madison train station was hoped to also be the public market. When the rail line was canceled, it threw a wrench in the public market plans.

Then, some thought the market might be dead after Paul Soglin resumed mayorship, ousting one of the market's biggest proponents, Dave Cieslewicz. However, Orton said that while he didn't take it on right away, creating a public market has become a priority for Soglin.

"Paul’s one marching order to us is, in a neighborhood that needs food options," Orton said of the Local Food Committee. "He wants it to be an economic development center in a neighborhood, rather than tourist, downtown worker lunch spot."

At present, the market planning process is moving forward again. According to Madison's Food and Alcohol Coordinator Mark Woulf, the city is in the process of recruiting a consulting team to help build a business plan for the market.

So, when will Madisonians be able to walk into their local public market? It is hard to predict.

"Lots of people are for and against the market, depending on who they are, what year it is, and where it is," Orton said. He also pointed out that Madison once had a public market, on East Johnson Street.

"There's nothing new about public markets or markets in general in cities," Orton said. "Markets pre-date supermarkets, and many went away when supermarkets came in."

Below you can browse a timeline of the Madison public market discussion in the last decade. There is also a downloadable PDF below which summarizes all major documents created by the city about the public market from 2004-2010.