Roanoke City Council members this morning dismissed a proposal to relocate market stalls to the center of Market Street, a look that would create a spine down the popular pedestrian destination.

The discussion came in light of plans to make the historic city market a more permanent downtown fixture.

Vendors were concerned about the project’s failure to address the ability of farmers to park their vehicles next to their stall, avoiding security and stock issues.

"You got to have someone there to watch it all the time," said Mark Woods, a local vendor and operator of Woods Farms.

Woods also mentioned the plan’s failure to accommodate disabled vendors, who would have limited access and proximity to their vehicle.

"We live out of our truck," he said.

Vendors sent a letter to the city council along with a petition carrying 75 signatures suggesting ways to make more practical and immediate changes to the City Market.
Highlights include replacing damaged awnings and their supporting structures, which have been punctured and torn from natural weathering, and installing new lighting and heating in the stalls.

Council members decided that most pertinent were a handful of functional and immediate changes to the market and that more permanent plans will continue to be discussed.

The original study, a collaboration between Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. design firm and Roanoke’s SFCS architects, included Putting outside balconies on buildings, including Center in the Square and turning the City Market Building inside out.