The planned interim use for the future site of Market Town (the part of New Town Center located at the former park-n-ride site) will open as Market Hall on May 1. The innovative retail center will feature many food vendors (supposedly gourmet) and outdoor activities including a great lawn, a fireplace and bocce courts. As presented to the Planning Commission this evening, the venue should be inviting for Hercules residents to spend an hour or two enjoying food, friends and family, and experiencing what the vibrant future may be like for the growing city.

Most important, the City has arranged for the farmers market — currently ill-located in the Home Depot parking lot — to be relocated to the Market Hall site for the duration of the interim project. One can only hope this represents a permanent change (wherever the farmers market may end up) and an indication of the City’s commitment to hosting a walkable farmers market.

The interim use even has a website: herculesmarkethall.com (coming soon, of course)…

Market Hall will be an interim use until construction starts, which is expected to take place in 18 to 24 months. At that point, the developer (Red Barn Co.) has stated that — assuming the concept works — they plan to shift Market Hall to the other side of I-80 (the site of the future Cinema Town) while Market Town is under construction.

On a related note, it is unfortunate the Planning Commission could not allow such a novel, unique and much-needed use pass through their commission without an unnecessary interrogation this evening (filled mostly with inconsequential questions, comments and suggestions, none of which would not surely be normally discussed by staff prior to opening). Although the Planning Commission had reportedly provided quality feedback following the initial presentation, the actual project is not subject to the Commission’s approval, as it is a temporary, interim use, and not permanent construction. Of course, it would be comforting to watch a government body provide input and step aside in a timely manner, however such an occurrence is highly unlikely with tv cameras rolling.

One point in particular made by a commissioner — the suggestion that Market Hall would be successful in that it will provide choice to Hercules residents for dinner options — is worthy of analysis. (At least I think so.) More dinner options would only be the ephemeral, circumstantial side-effect if Market Hall succeeds. What Market Hall will provide — and indeed the entire idea of a temporary outdoor market staged on a future construction site — is an enhanced opportunity for the long-term economic development that Hercules needs to be viable, not only from a tax-base perspective, but as a live-and-work urban setting.

Market Hall is less about food, and more about marketing, and its success will hinge on whether or not the developer can secure leasing agreements with top tenants for the foreseeable future. That is the larger picture that I believe the Commission has largely missed on this subject, in my opinion, as it finely waded through the minute details. Success will ultimately be measured by future tenants when interim Market Hall is cleared, and permanent Market Town is built, not by the choice of a Danish or casserole on a warm evening this summer (which, by the way, I pleasantly look forward to).