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A sketch of the proposed James Beard Public Market to be built at the west end of the Morrison Bridge.

(courtesy SERA Architects)

As the developers in charge of creating Portland's long-awaited

ramp up their work, details are beginning to take shape about how the market would look, who would shop there, and what vendors would hawk.

During a meeting to update the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners about the $30 million project, the market's executive director released some new information about the massive indoor-outdoor food market planned for the west end of the Morrison Bridge.

Multnomah County leaders have agreed to sell the 3.12-acre site to Melvin Mark Companies and nonprofit James Beard Public Market Foundation for $10.4 million. Currently, parking lots occupy the space.

At the meeting, market director Ron Paul offered an early glimpse at what shoppers could see when the market finally opens in 2016:

The market will be super-sustainable. Paul said the market's roof will include solar panels and green roofing. In addition, the market will partner with social service organizations in Downtown Portland to make use of leftovers and blemished food that's still edible, but doesn't meet the bar for retail sale. The ultimate goal, Paul said: "The market will waste less than a family of four would on any given day."

Unlike

It will have 45,000 square feet of vendor space. The space will be divided into 12-by-12-foot stalls. Some large vendors might occupy multiple stalls, while smaller vendors, such as spice sellers, will only need part of a stall.

It will include a mezzanine level above the market floor, dedicated to education, community outreach, cooking demonstrations and other programming.

The market's offerings will be diverse, both in terms of variety and cost. Paul said. "It's not a rarefied yuppie food hall," he said. "It's not just for the few. It's for the many, and it's for the many cultures that exist within our region."

It will borrow time-tested design concepts from old markets around the world, including two in Copenhagen and Oslo. "We're capturing the archetypical sense of markets around the world, but doing it in a very Portland and 21

In addition to the market, the site will include a 235-foot-tall building. The developers are considering options for an office building, hotel, or mixed-use residential and office building. It's worth noting that, before any of this can happen, those in charge of the project need to raise the money for construction. So far, they've raised about $2 million.

--Kelly House