What’s happening with the James Beard Public Market Project?
As someone who once happily lived just up Beacon Hill from the Pike Place Market in Seattle, I’ve been wondering what’s happening with the Portland public market project. So I decided to do a little web searching to see what I could find out.
My first search turned up this:
BREAKING BEARD: Last month, a deal was finally inked for the planned James Beard Public Market. The giant indoor market, named for Oregon native and foodie hero James Beard, would look something like Seattle’s Pike Place Market and sit at the west end of the Morrison Bridge. But the current king of Portland stall sellers isn’t bowing to kiss Beard’s ring just yet. Portland Farmers Market boss Trudy Toliver told Capital Press that the markets have “somewhat similar value sets,” but told WW that public markets are a “different animal.” Toliver says PFM prioritizes local vendors, but public markets “aren’t a place where you go to meet a farmer.” While the Beard group says it will commit to local vendors, public markets have a history of starting off local before selling out.”
via Scoop: Market Forces.
Also on the page was this report from Oregon Live:
Multnomah County commissioners voted to approve a deal to sell land at the west end of the Morrison Bridge to Melvin Mark Companies and nonprofit James Beard Public Market Foundation for a 17-story high-rise and Pike Place-style market. The decision marks the end of a long process that began when the county declared the 3.12-acre property, occupied mostly by parking lots, as surplus and began looking for a buyer. And it means the fulfillment of a long-sought dream of a public food market in downtown Portland. The partnership is purchasing the property for $10,430,000. The deal will close in 37 months. “
The deal will close in 37 months? Yikes, that’s over 3 years–and that’s just for the deal to close. So when is it planned to open?
According to this article from the Portland Business Journal:
The deal gives market promoters 37 months to raise the approximately $25 million it will take to develop the market so it can open with no debt. Supporters anticipate opening the market in 2016.”
Which means, I guess, that I shouldn’t be planning a field trip to the Market any time soon.
thelocalomnivore.wordpress.com 
They just this Summer held the kick-off party to raise 25 million to start building. They’ve two years I believe to meet this goal and purchase the property. So I wouldn’t recommend holding your breath.