Organizers say this Sunday’s August edition of the BadWill Market is canceled following a dust-up with the city over permits. In an email sent to participants, organizer Osiris Navarro said this weekend’s third edition of the market would not take place following the city’s decision to deny her application for a “sidewalk permit:”
Dear Vendors & Supporters,
Thank you for your continued support in making BadWill Market grow into a fun and exciting community event. The past two events in June and July were truly a success and I am happy we were able to make it happen. Unfortunately because of it’s success it drew some attention from the City of Seattle and I have to cancel the August 28th market.
I have tried to address the issues they brought to the table 1) making sure my vendors have business license, 2) applying for a permit for the use of sidewalk. After encouraging everyone to get a business license, and applying for a sidewalk permit, they have denied my efforts and have brought on a new set of issues that hinder the event from taking place. It is a shame that they are bringing up these new issues regarding zoning and permits less than a week from our anticipated third BadWill Market.
Vendors, if you have paid for your booth rental for this coming Sunday I will refund you via Paypal today. I apologize for the inconvenience. I was very excited for this event, but apparently have to do more “homework” on how this city works before throwing another event.
It is not the end of BadWill. I will be speaking with my partners to see how we can bring it back at a later time. Thank you so much for being a part of this and visit www.badwillmarket.com and our Facebook page for more information.
CHS first wrote about the monthly summertime market before it debuted in June. The Seattle Times also featured the market.
Craft and vintage markets are suddenly a big thing again on the Hill. While some of the more organic efforts crop up regularly in places like the dry cleaners lot on E Olive Way near Broadway, a new wave of markets emphasizing a mix of vintage and crafted goods has also become part of weekend shopping on the Hill. Century Ballroom recently debuted a weekly flea market inside the Odd Fellows building and the ArtAche market will debut at 11th Ave’s Vermillion in September. None of the other organized Capitol Hill markets have outdoor, sidewalk-related components but some of the issues related to business licenses and land use could also end up being stumbling blocks to a small but growing economy.
It’s small. But there is business here. The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce has created a “CHUMS Capitol Hill Urban Markets Seattle” Facebook group: “Many markets are popping up around Capitol Hill where locals can go rummage through another’s wares. With so many creative people in the community we thought we would try to bring them all together in one place. This group is meant to bring those markets together, a place where organizers and sellers can communicate and collaborate with one another.”
We’re checking with SDOT for more on the issues related to BadWill and any hope for a solution for that market — and the many others that appear to be waiting in the wings.
They give permits to any other rummage sale, farmers market, kid’s event, Pride events and even some downright freak shows and they won’t allow this one? That’s pretty crappy
‘Nuff said.
The problem is they don’t have liquor sales! The city supports anything that gets it’s citizens drunk. Maybe they need to contact Budweiser.
Just a little hiccup in the road, it doesn’t mean the project is dead, just that they have to get themselves into compliance. Once that’s done, the city can’t really say no as long as the proper procedures are adhered to.
Typical petty government bullshit. How is it that we, mostly responsible individuals just looking to have a good time, need to get permits from an entity that can’t even handle 6″ of snow? When will we realize that the emperor is buck-naked, both here in Seattle and in Washington, DC?
Accompanying photo shows blocked public sidewalk? Glad the city said no. Move to private property and stay out of my way.
Seattle. Where fun goes to die. This city is just becoming waaay to conservative.
We can’t forget to call out the vast number of dbags in Seattle who make comments like yours.
Have you ever been? Do you even know? There’s one photo, that doesn’t show blocked sidewalks, it shows people on a sidewalk, but how do you know that’s not a wide sidewalk with plenty of room for people to pass around the vendors? Stop being such a bitch.
Conservative? You have to be joking!
Along with Berkeley, SanFrancisco, and other cities, Seattle is one of the most liberal places in the USA, and Capitol Hill is the epicenter.
Be thankful for what you’ve got.
@js
actually, that one photo DOES show a blocked sidewalk. you have tables and rounders on the right side, a bunch of people standing around in the middle and people on the left lounging in folding chairs. i can see the wheel of a car in the very lower left of the picture which tells me the people sitting are right at the curb. most reasonable people would call this blocked.
that said, i don’t think they need to move to private property, they just need to come into compliance with how to use the sidewalk for this kind of event.