Farmers' Market in Mayfair?! One Step Closer Thanks to Councilman Henon

Through our collective efforts (Mayfair CDC, Mayfair Civic Association and Mayfair Business Association) and through our 6th District City Councilman Bobby Henon and his Office staff, our neighborhood is one step closer  to realizing our goal of a Farmers' Market at Cottman and Frankford Aves (3500 Block of Ryan Ave.).  Three weeks ago Mia Hylan and Joe DeFelice met with Councilman Henon, and staffers: Chris Creelman, Lisa Deeley and Court Voss to discuss bringing a Farmers' Market to Mayfair.  Councilman Henon was very interested in the idea and after a proposal put together by Hylan, DeFelice and Mayfair CDC Executive Director Sue St Marie, the Councilman's Office had a better understanding of what the neighborhood was looking to do.   Some ideas for the Market include rotating organic markets, local vendors and Mayfair Business Association members, rotating gourmet food trucks, lite entertainment and something for the kids.  Today the following Legislation was presented to the City Council:

AN ORDINANCE

Amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Farmers’ Markets,” by adding as a permissible location a portion of the sidewalks and curb lanes of both sides of the 3500 block of Ryan Avenue beginning at Frankford Avenue, and making conforming amendments to Section 9-205, entitled “Sidewalk Sales,” all under certain terms and conditions.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1.  SECTION 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read

as follows:

§ 9-205.  Sidewalk Sales.

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(8)    Prohibited Conduct. No vendor or person shall:

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                        (p)  exhibit, display, offer for sale or sell any goods, wares, or merchandise or place or allow any stand to remain on the sidewalks of the following streets or any other location which the Council shall from time to time ordain:

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                                    (.327)   The Sixth Councilmanic District. This prohibition shall not apply [to sidewalk] to:

                                                (.a) Sidewalk vending by an owner or tenant of an abutting building, provided that: (i) such vending is accessory to a business conducted by such owner or tenant in the abutting building; and (ii) no merchandise display or other stand shall be placed on the sidewalk except within three feet of the abutting building, and in no event shall a stand be placed on the sidewalk if it reduces the unobstructed pedestrian right-of-way to less than six feet. Such permitted sidewalk vending shall be exempt from all other provisions of this Section 9-205, including, but not limited to, the license requirement of subsection [9-205(3).] 9-205(3); or

                                                (.b) Farmers’ Markets at locations permitted by Section 9-213( 7 ) of this Code.

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SECTION 2. Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read

as follows:

§9-213. Farmers’ Markets.

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(7)  Permissible Locations. Farmers' Markets at the following locations shall be permitted:

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                        ( ) The sidewalks and curb lanes of both sides of the 3500 block of Ryan Avenue from Frankford Avenue and extending 156 feet northwest of the northwest line of Frankford Avenue, provided the hours of operation shall be Sundays from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, from April 1^st through October 31^st.  

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SECTION 3.  This Ordinance shall become effective immediately.

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As you can see from clicking Here, the Northeast is basically barren when it comes to Farmers' Markets (not including fruit stands and supermarkets) and the northernmost Market is at Bridge and Pratt.