Please sign the petition if you align with the following initiative:
INITIATIVE:
THE NEW GLENWOOD SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET & ALFRESCO EXPERIENCE 2024
PROPOSAL:
This initiative is presented as an exciting new branding and location for the market while maintaining the strong foundation that commenced in 2010, including the progress, success, and significance of its historic past, as well as its exciting future.
TASK:
Re-locate market to east side of CTA, in same block, between Morse and Lunt, on North Glenwood Ave.
ORIGINS:
What transpired in our first season, as we were all hoping to collaborate, seemed cumbersome and frustrating for those of us who attempted to find our way through the dress-rehearsal of combining Alfresco and the Sunday market. I think we all had the best of intentions as we dove into uncharted territory. There were no models or protocols to follow for this particular “marriage” as a reference point…..and the guidance archive was kind of undetermined and there were a lot of unknowns at the start. Without these specific formats and protocols to show us how to navigate, we collectively took on the process in realtime…..and although we managed, the issues we encountered, presented challenges and changes in our working relationships that divided us, and to this point, sadly didn’t even allow us to celebrate collectively, bringing a new facet to Sunday’s weekly summer gathering……a treasured and essential aspect of Rogers Park culture.
Visualize and imagine not only the market, but also art and music and programming that we now could accommodate while not competing for street space or stepping upon each other in the futile attempts we made, previously.
ADVANTAGE POINTS:
- RPBA CTA storage space opens directly onto N Glenwood
- Relocation is 25 steps from original footprint, minimizing attendee confusion
Market Autonomy: NO businesses on east side of tracks to interrupt, suspend, block, or move.
- No building service access points for tenants or parking along entire stretch blocked or obstructed.
- Alfresco Autonomy: Business responsibilities, remain in place, per usual
Outdoor music programming, featured, underwritten cultural nutrition, on Sundays, 11AM-1PM which compliments shoppers experience.
- We would eventually (future) like to add and open up the alfresco side as a local artisan market in addition to the farmers market
- The removal of wrought iron chairs, tables, barrels etc. from street, which has been a logistics nightmare, and an unreasonable request of our staff after Saturday night service, no longer required.
- No more back ups in a one lane alley
- No more blockage of our parking lot from vendors or RPBA service staff
- Le Piano will re-open for brunch on Sundays…..there is currently a lack of breakfast and lunch options
- Businesses along the entire stretch of Glenwood including south of Morse, will be open for business
- The New Sunday Market & Alfresco Experience will emerge as the next iteration of what the market has brought us for twelve wonderful years; a destination in the heart of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District which reinvents a great existing concept, while taking on the stewardship of a fresh vision for the future