Farmers Market: A Genuine Civic Amenity*

Enhancing the Farmers Market property provides a good opportunity for the neighborhoods of Ritta, John Sevier and Alice Bell to share a library facility and other community needs by adding senior citizen services, recreation fields and greenway trail connections.

Community serving retail establishments should also be considered. The businesses should be pedestrian friendly and be accessible by the sidewalks planned along Washington Pike as part of the road improvement project. Creation of a small ‘lifestyle center’ in this area may be a good alternative, incorporating Farmers Market activities and additional specialty shopping.

The International Council of Shopping Centers defines a lifestyle center as an open-air mall with at least 50,000 square feet of specialty shops, one or more department stores and one or more sit-down restaurants. It has “nooks, crannies, shade, fountains and benches — a place to hang out while window shopping.” Sometimes lifestyle centers look like ‘community commons’ or Main Street, and incorporate components of government. Future development at the site should not disturb the slope protection area.

*A Farmers Market study for Knox County was completed by MPC on July 25, 2003. Please see Appendix A for the Executive Summary.