Project for Public Spaces

Who We Are

David O'Neil

Senior Associate, Public Markets

Mr. O'Neil is an international market consultant and expert in the management and development of public markets and rebuilding local economies. He is the former General Manager of the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, where he directed the overall market revitalization for ten years. He owned the Reading Terminal Market trademark until selling it in 2003.

One of the key elements in any market venture is working with would-be entrepreneurs to develop small-scale businesses that work in markets. He has worked successfully with many vendors and farmers who had no previous entrepreneurial experience.

After Reading Terminal Market, he traveled the ancient trade routes of Asia, studying markets in cities and remote areas, walking over a thousand miles.

He now serves as Director of the Public Market Collaborative, a network of individuals and organizations who plan, design, develop and operate public markets.

He has been a consultant to over a hundred historic and new market projects in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Africa and Europe.

Mr. O'Neil was a contributing writer and advisor to the Urban Land Institutes recently published book “Public Markets and Community Revitalization". He recently completed “Reading Terminal Market, An Illustrated History” published by Camino Press in 2003.

He has the world’s largest collection of market documents and photographs and has lent or donated parts of his collection to museums, periodicals, authors and TV programs.

With USDA sponsorship, he directed the 3rd International Public Market Conference which was held in Philadelphia in 1996 and the 4th Conference held at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA and Granville Island Market in Vancouver, BC in 1998. He directed the 5th Conference held in New York in 2002 sponsored by the Ford Foundation.

He is currently an instructor for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, teaching a course in market development.

Recent projects include markets in: Houston, Holland, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, Auckland, Los Angeles, Detroit, Santa Fe, San Francisco and New York City.

Education

University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
American College of Switzerland, Leysin, Switzerland

Publications

Public Markets and Community Revitalization (contributing writer and advisor), Project for Public Spaces, Inc. and Urban Land Institute, 1995.