To capitalize on expanding interest in locally-sourced and unique food items, a non-profit group is moving forward with plans to build Boston's first permanent public market focused on locally grown foods in a space atop the Haymarket MBTA station.
New England is a farming powerhouse with a $2.4 billion agricultural economy, but according to local-food advocate Andy Kendall, "only 5 percent to 10 percent of the food consumed in New England is actually grown or produced in the region." A decade-long effort to help remedy the situation by providing "a showcase for New England foods" took a giant leap forward this week with the announcement that construction would soon begin on Boston Public Market, a 28,000-square-foot facility located atop the MBTA's Haymarket Station.
"Once completed, the indoor market will host about 40 vendors selling a wide array of local products, including fish, cheese, meats, produce, flowers, and specialty items," writes Casey Ross. "It is designed to function like a daily farmer’s market. But vendors will also offer prepared foods and dry goods such as books, candles, and cooking utensils."
"'This market will allow us to show off the best of what our small farms and agricultural producers have to offer,' said Governor Deval Patrick, whose administration has committed $4 million to help with the facility’s construction. 'There are a lot of wonderful things grown and made in Massachusetts that people ought to know about.'"
Read the full story: Boston public food market set for construction
Nation's Largest Public Food Forest Gets a Chance to Grow in Atlanta
A new 7-acre public food forest is part of an initiative to ensure every resident of Atlanta has access to fresh food by 2021.
Urban Farming Program Struggles to Sprout
Los Angeles created a tax incentive to promote urban farms on the thousands of vacant lots around the city. So far, the incentive has been given out only four times.
Vertical Farms, Fad or Feast?
Hydroponic indoor farmers hope to charge a premium for plants grown out of season in indoor farms. The notion has generated attention from big investors, but whether or not consumers will follow is an open question.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority