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Council and community press for creative approach to Harrison and Main redevelopment to preserve farmers market
Summary
Councilors, staff and market organizers discussed a potential transit‑oriented redevelopment of the city‑ and Metro‑owned Harrison and Main parking lot, with repeated calls to preserve the Milwaukie Farmers Market and other public event space while exploring housing, parking and design-competition options.
City staff and Metro have renewed discussions about redeveloping the Harrison and Main parking lot as a transit‑oriented development, and councilors and members of the public urged a collaborative, creative process that preserves the Milwaukie Farmers Market and downtown event space.
Assistant City Manager Joseph Brillio and development project manager Mandy Byrd told the council the two parcels are split between the city (eastern half) and Metro (western half) under a 2016 intergovernmental agreement; Metro has recently renewed interest in pursuing development after a multi-year pause. Staff listed constraints — loss of public parking, farmer’s- market relocation needs, potential site contamination — and asked the council whether priorities for the site had changed.
Public testimony emphasized the market’s size and operations. Dave Aschenbrenner, a Celebrate Milwaukie board member, described vendor logistics and access: the current lot provides multiple entry/exit points important for setting up and tearing down an 85‑space market; moving to the South Downtown plaza would reduce usable vendor spaces and complicate vendor parking and traffic. Market manager Bridal Eiswirth said the market has supported hundreds of small businesses, distributes SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks to local shoppers, and draws a broad cross‑section of residents. Eiswirth stressed that losing the plaza would “give up a town square” unless an equal or better public space is provided.
Councilors and staff discussed options including design competitions, mixed‑use development with ground‑floor open space that could host markets, two‑level parking with high-volume ground floor space for vendors and a potential pedestrian bridge to the riverfront. Several councilors said preserving regular public events should be a top priority; others urged balancing that priority with long‑term housing needs and climate goals. Council President Will Anderson and others asked staff to return with clarified constraints and to reengage Metro on adjusted priorities; staff said they would update Metro and continue the discussion.
Staff emphasized that Metro has not indicated willingness to sell its parcel to the city, and that Metro could move forward independently if the parties do not reach agreement. Leaders asked for a visioning step that would define constraints (rights‑of‑way, transit center presence, parking needs) before launching a design process.
No formal vote was taken; staff will report back after conversations with Metro and with a clearer identification of constraints and options.
