Alchemist

I’m very excited about the 12th Street Market. We at Alchemist have been juggling with the idea of a coop coffee shop or café that allows for a mixed-use site that would serve the community. We also want a site that will allow us to help support entrepreneurs in the community. We’ve had some grand ideas about how we might be able to find a historic building on or near Twelfth Street that would house a business, at least one apartment, and space for education and support for business skills and entrepreneurship.

After meeting with community members at the Alchemist sponsored community design meeting, we found support for the coffee shop idea which confirmed earlier research, but there was also a very strong interest in having a market in the community where people could buy fresh produce, environmentally friendly products and healthy food. An idea started brewing that went beyond just coffee and buildings. We could start with a community marketplace in the near future, if we could find a community space indoors or outdoors near 12th Street. We would provide spaces for community members to sell fresh fruit and vegetables and other products that promote healthy eating and healthy communities.

The next step is to find a community space, and then find people inside or outside of the community who want to support the economic development of Alkali Flat. Working with the community on building a vibrant economy will benefit the downtown/midtown area. Having an exciting marketplace that will serve Alkali Flat and the surrounding downtown community will help bring energy back to a growing community.

If you are interested in learning more about the 12th Street Market concept and how you can share your talents to help invigorate the growing downtown/midtown area, please join us. We will be having a meeting soon on how we can find a community space and get the market going. For more information, contact Nancy Miller, lifeworkdesign@yahoo.com.