Earlier this year, Pike Place Market requested an $80- million property-tax levy to renovate the market and improve access for people with disabilities. But several market merchants are unhappy with the plan, which they say would unnecessarily displace small businesses.

For 28 years, Joe Canavan has operated World Class Chili, a small chili stand in the Economy market atrium, selling four kinds of chili (Texas, Cincinnati, "California," and vegetarian) to a crowd of market regulars. Under the current renovation plans, however, the public space around his chili stand would be filled in with two new floors of retail space, "covering up my space completely," he says. "The entrance to my place would be completely invisible from the rest of the market—people coming through will not be able to see me at all. There's no way I can survive."

At least six businesses would be displaced or impacted by the plans, which also call for three new elevators and a large new bank of public restrooms. (Merchants say the market is not required to have elevators, although they would improve access for disabled people and vendors). In addition to World Class Chili, the impacted businesses include Studio Solstone, which specializes in watercolors by Sarah Clementson; Pike Place Outfitters, which sells outdoor clothing; Simply the Best, a dried-fruit stand across from the fish throwers Pike Place Fish; and Best Flowers, a small flower shop that has been in its current location for 70 years. Issie Sime, an owner of Best Flowers, says she'd like to keep her business in the market. "I've been an owner for 17 years," Sime says. "It's my life."

Michael Yaeger, the unofficial "mayor" of the market and co-owner of Studio Solstone, says that some of the improvements in the levy, such as electrical and mechanical upgrades and seismic improvements, make sense. But he'd like to see about $30 million shaved off the cost of the levy—the $30 million that will pay for the new restrooms, retail space, and elevator shafts like the one that could displace his business. "They want to give the market a new face and destroy all sorts of mom-and-pop businesses" in the process, Yaeger says. "All that history—forget it. It's going to be an elevator shaft."

Mark Monroe is a part owner at Lowell's Restaurant on Pike Place, a 51-year-old market institution overlooking Elliott Bay. Although he wouldn't be impacted directly by the renovation, Monroe says that as one of the market's larger vendors, he's trying to get information out about the renovations and give the smaller vendors a voice. He says he doesn't see why the improvements have to displace longstanding businesses. "I'm of the opinion that all ideas are good ideas until proven otherwise," he says. "But do we really need an additional bathroom when the ones that are already here aren't being policed and cleaned as it is?"

James Haydu, marketing director for the market's Public Development Authority, says none of the plans are final. "There are many draft proposals on the table that we're sharing with our constituents. This is very much a work in progress." The PDA will hold a meeting about the plans on Wednesday, January 30, at the Central Library (1000 Fourth Ave) at 6:00 p.m.