# James Beard Public Market

The James Beard Public Market is a proposed public market in Portland, Oregon, United States. Named after James Beard, a Portland-born chef and cookbook writer, the market is slated to open in the Selling Building and the Ungar Building. It is slated to partially open in late 2025.
The market was previously planned to be located at the west end of the Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland, in what are currently parking lots, but this site was dropped in November 2016 after concerns over pedestrian accessibility due to the bridgehead ramps. The developer, Melvin Mark Development, continued with plans to build a 17-story building at the same site. Original designs for the market called for it to have two halls, totaling 80,000 square feet (7,400 m$^2$), along with 60 permanent and 30 to 40 temporary stalls for food vendors. Design for the market has been led by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta.

## History

Part of the originally proposed site of the market abuts The Oregonian Printing Press Park, where the first copy of The Oregonian was printed in December 1850.
The original site for the James Beard Public Market is located near the former site of the Portland Public Market, which was the largest public market in the United States when it was built in December 1933 for $1 million. It was located on what is now Tom McCall Waterfront Park in between the Hawthorne Bridge and Morrison Bridge. Its construction enabled removal of the on-street Carroll Public Market. After closing in 1942 due to lack of demand, it was later used as the headquarters of The Oregon Journal from 1948 to 1961. Demolition occurred in 1969.
Multnomah County sold 3.12 acres (1.26 ha) of property to Melvin Mark Companies and the James Beard Public Market Foundation in June 2012 for $10.43 million.
The market is slated to partially open in 2025. The Oregon Legislature is considering funding for the project.

## Design
### Early designs

The market was expected to cost $30 million to construct, with the funds coming from public donations and Multnomah County. According to the market's director, it would have included solar panels and green roofing, be divided into 12-by-12-foot (3.7 m × 3.7 m) stalls, and have a mezzanine level for education and cooking classes.
Portland city officials considered removing or modifying the cloverleaf ramps that run from the Morrison Bridge to Naito Parkway, while the market proposed moving the ramps to Morrison and Stark streets, allowing easier pedestrian access from the waterfront. However, the market and the city failed to reach a decision on the ramps, leading the market to abandon the waterfront site in November 2016. Other sites near the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and in the South Waterfront are under consideration as alternatives.
The initial design for the market was unveiled on June 25, 2015 at OMSI. Facing Naito Parkway and the Willamette River, there would have been 650 feet (200 m) of storefronts, with a facade of glass doors to allow outdoor seating during good weather. A terraced rooftop garden with views of Mount Hood was also planned.

### Ongoing work

The market slated to open in 2015 will be housed in the Selling Building and the Ungar Building.