Dallas Farmers Market

In 1941, the site at the corner of South Pearl and Taylor Street in the southeast quadrant of Downtown Dallas was officially sanctioned as the municipally owned and operated Dallas Farmers Market, dedicated to the sale of farm-fresh produce. Initially, three open-air sheds were constructed, where farmers’ trucks backed into concrete docks and customers drove through, parked, and shopped. Despite its vibrant start, the market became characterized by exhaust fumes and poor lighting, making it far from pedestrian-friendly. Over time, the market declined, with farmers being replaced by produce wholesalers selling lower-quality merchandise. The City of Dallas eventually decided to put the real estate and management contract out to bid through an RFP process.

Spectrum Properties successfully secured the contract to purchase the land and buildings from the City, based on a master plan vision that transformed the market into a pedestrian-focused mixed-use village anchored by food. The original “Shed 1” was reimagined as a pedestrian-only open-air facility with vendor table displays replacing the trucks and docks. The 27,000 square foot climate-controlled “Shed 2” was converted into a food hall, featuring anchor restaurants at the corners and a variety of smaller operations with shared dining areas inside and outside. GFF established finish-out and signage standards to maintain a vibrant yet cohesive aesthetic.

A key part of the transformation involved demolishing the underutilized Sheds 3 and 4 and reclaiming the land with a four-story mixed-use building that includes 244 apartment units, 25,000 square feet of street-level retail and restaurant space, and a 550-car parking structure. The design, featuring a disciplined grid of red brick and a steel framework for balconies, offers a contemporary yet timeless look. Removing cars from the streets and placing them in the garage allows Pearl and Taylor streets to become fully pedestrian-only on busy market days and during festivals. The glazed overhead garage doors of the new retail spaces enable retail and restaurant activities to spill out onto the sidewalks.

The renovated Dallas Farmers Market has transformed an aging, car-centric district into a highly walkable and vibrant area. Core to the Farmers Market area is the mixture of different businesses and uses throughout the year, with the connection of these uses being vital. GFF’s Landscae Architecture Studio prioritized pedestrian walkability by designing expansive sidewalks, easy street crossings, and healthy plant buffers separating car traffic from pedestrians. The intersection of Pearl and Taylor Streets features a Farmers Market seal designed and detailed in brick. The area also includes string lighting, ample street seating, green screens, and water play elements to enhance the corridor’s appeal and activity.

Adjacent to the Dallas Farmers Market, the City Futsal complex, previously an abandoned parking lot, has been transformed into a dynamic sports facility. The complex features multiple plush sand volleyball courts, a dividable turf pitch, and a large pavilion housing a hard-surfaced pitch. A bar cabana was added to enhance leisure opportunities during the hot Dallas summers. The complex serves as a recreational outlet, converting a traffic underpass into a pedestrian accessway from the market corridor, creating a protected travel path for visitors of all ages.