Panel should examine possible Market Square relocation: vendors

A group of Market Square vendors has sent an open letter to city council, Laurentian University and the community, recommending a “panel of independent, unbiased citizens” examine the issues of the location of Market Square and the new Laurentian University School of Architecture.

Laurentian has identified Market Square as the preferred location for its new School of Architecture. City councillors are set to make a final decision on whether or not to sell the land to the university next month.

The letter from the vendors suggests the citizens' panel should “be given a broad mandate and sufficient time to conduct a thorough review with respect to the location/relocation of both Market Square and the proposed new LU School of Architecture in downtown Sudbury.”

The panel “should have access to all relevant material and to all parties concerned,” and their final report should be presented to city council, the letter said.

The letter also refutes “reports in the media and elsewhere” that the vendors find the Market Square facility lacking.

“Compared to market facilities in other cities of similar size, and those both larger and smaller than ours, we feel that we are very fortunate, and do not believe that moving to another location and another facility would serve us as well as where we are presently located,” the letter said.

It does say present and past management of Market Square has not allowed the market to reach its full potential.

“While the market has accomplished three of its original purposes to be 'an incubator for small business start up, a public market and a downtown landmark,' it is not yet quite the 'cultural' showcase that was envisaged as a community centre for various groups and activities,” the letter said.

This goal is still possible “with a committed management team,” the letter said.

Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen