Luckily, I have not advocated for the By Ward Market to “compete with suburbs on parking.” Having car access to somewhere does not automatically make it a desirable destination.
The By Ward Market needs to be a unique place. Somewhere that attracts people from all across the city. It must be something that people can’t experience elsewhere.
However, that is not enough. If it is to actually get people to go downtown, it must be easily accessible. I expect that lots of people would like to visit the Great Pyramids of Egypt, too, but most will never go because there are too many roadblocks for them. The idea is to minimize any impediments to travel to the By Ward Market.
The By Ward Market must become a desirable, unique, destination. Pedestrification of the area is likely a big part of that. So is special lighting at night to highlight its uniqueness; and one-of-a-kind restaraunts; and farmers selling their produce; and buskers and other animation.
I am suggesting that The Market also needs to be easily accessible so that people are not dissuaded from going there. As such, I believe that the city should be putting a layer of car parking UNDER the pedestrianized By Ward Market. All of the attraction of The Market must be at grade, with the parking hidden underneath.
For example:
Where the blue roads are at grade and the red and fuchsia are ramps/tunnels to underground parking. The green is the area exclusively dedicated to pedestrians (and market stalls), with parking under it. Merchants can park under their stalls and there can be lifts added for them.
Notice that I have also narrowed Sussex at York, to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. Also, a chicane has been added there to slow the one-way traffic. Only pedestrian crossing signals are needed.