Tom Lochner reports… “Promoted as a temporary gourmet gathering and networking venue that would ‘put Hercules on the map,’ Market Hall will close unless the city pumps in some more money, the developer warned the city this week.” It is comical that Red Barn feels that it is in a position to “warn” the city [...]

The City will commence negotiations with AndersonPacific in closed session prior to tonight’s meeting — 7pm at City Hall. As reported previously, the councilmember reports will take place at the end of the meeting, not at its heart. A public hearing will also be held on a boardwalk — a 10-foot-wide sidewalk — along the [...]

The City will pursue negotiations to purchase property along Willow Avenue (including the site currently operated by West Coast Drilling; lorem ipsum dolor) as it establishes the ultimate property boundary for the future Cinema Town and Transit Town, the second and third phases of the New Town Center project. (The first phase is Market Town, [...]

Councilmembers Ed Balico and Kris Valstad both mentioned their support for a pedestrian ramp at the intersection of Sycamore and San Pablo Avenues during the last City Council meeting (amidst a discussion of the Sycamore Crossing project)… A pedestrian ramp is not a bad idea, but it is not the solution to the problem at [...]

I walked to Market Hall’s grand opening from my house last weekend. Unfortunately that meant crossing the deadliest intersection in Hercules — Sycamore and San Pablo — where drivers refuse to cede the lawful right-of-way to pedestrians… (I am sure these two drivers would have behaved worse if I weren’t explicitly filming them.) Also unfortunate [...]

Market Hall is already on Yelp; the first review is mixed. I enjoyed the grand opening. Hopefully the interim market will see similar turnout in the weeks and months to follow. The farmers market will be a draw on Saturday evenings, but what about Tuesday through Thursday during the day? The goal of Market Hall [...]

Aside from the farmers market being wisely relocated to the site of Market Hall — which will result in a much more walkable market (the Home Depot parking lot had been a poor location) — the farmers market will also feature revamped marketing this year, ostensibly courtesy of the developers of Market Town (Red Barn), [...]

We are all cordially invited to Market Hall’s opening day this Saturday, May 1… My only question concerns the scheduled 3:30pm event where patrons will apparently witness the relocation of the Hercules Certified Farmers Market. Hopefully it is not much more than a shifting of a few tables and chairs. Market Hall’s “What’s Cooking” calendar [...]

The city-wide garage sale is this coming weekend. As a New Urbanist however, I think there is an attractive alternative. Yes, I am talking about an old-fashioned swap meet. Garage sales are perfect examples of suburban living. In fact, garage sales are more accurately described as driveway sales, and driveways reign king in suburbia. I [...]

Market Hall tweeted its hours: Tuesday through Saturday — 10am to 9pm Sunday — 12pm to 6pm Monday — Closed The Farmers Market has been wisely relocated to the site of Market Hall (which will result in a much more walkable market), and will take place on Saturdays from 3:30 to 7pm. Market Hall’s website [...]

Fresh & Easy has signed a letter of intent to lease and become the anchor tenant for Market Town, the first phase of New Town Center and the long-term plan following a two-year interim use for the site as the innovative Market Hall. Evidence that Fresh & Easy would be the anchor tenant was first [...]

Market Hall — the interim retail experience on the former park-and-ride lot — has announced its first retailer: Moschetti Espresso. This will be the company’s first retail cafe, according to the announcement made via Market Hall’s Facebook page and spread through its Twitter feed. Market Hall also has a less than frequently-updated blog. UPDATE — [...]

Certainly not promising news, but a realization of the state’s troubled finances nevertheless… “Hercules has weathered the recession better than many of its neighbors, but a state take-away of redevelopment funds could force some changes of plans.” The following projects would be delayed if the California Redevelopment Association loses the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of [...]

The site of the old park n’ ride will have a creative temporary use called Market Hall. For the next two years before the permanent Market Town begins construction, a fabricated installation of food and entertainment options will activate the corner of Sycamore and San Pablo Avenues. The idea is that the various venders will [...]

Tom Lochner reports on the interim use for Market Town… “Market Hall, a soon-to-come venue for upscale, mobile food vendors at Hercules’ busiest crossroads, is now receiving a warmer welcome from planners who three months ago expressed strong misgivings that it could end up as a tacky cluster of taco trucks, a flea market, trailer [...]

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 [...]

Outside of commissioner reports, the agenda for Monday evening’s Planning Commission meeting — 7pm at City Hall — will feature two informative presentations: the interim Market Hall (now under construction) at the future New Town Center site (I had previously criticized the Commission’s perceived over-protectiveness on the matter in November), and the Refugio Creek Watershed [...]

I’ve dedicated a good amount of space criticizing the City Council — Don Kuehne has been a disaster; Kris Valstad is vulnerable in his bid for reelection (there, I said it); Joe Eddy McDonald is either a laughingstock or the Caped Crusader; Ed Balico is both Mister Hercules and Captain Corruption; and Joanne Ward is [...]