By: Deborah Johnson Wood
The May 2 opening of the Fulton Street Farmers Market might be the perfect time for vendors and shoppers to think about what an updated, redesigned market might look like. A feasibility study conducted by New York-based Project for Public Spaces includes recommendations for site improvements to the property at 1145 E. Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, and year-round hours.
The study, presented to the Midtown Neighborhood Association and community last December, estimates the changes could run some $2.8 million.
"It will take about a year to raise
that amount," says Christine Helms-Maletic, a nonprofit organizational
consultant heading up the project.
"The study recommends construction of
what they call a headhouse," Helms-Maletic says. "It would be about
3,000 square feet space, twice that if it's two stories, and would have
about 12 vendor spaces for a year-round marketplace."
The building could also feature a
coffee shop, butcher shop and a community gathering space. A suggested
location is the southern end of the property, along Fulton Street.
Other recommendations include
redesigning the layout of the existing open air market by locating
vendor booths on either the north or south end of the property,
covering them with a permanent canopy, and creating a parking area on
the opposite end. If adopted, the shopping area would change from one
main aisle to two.
"We'll spend several months doing
design work with a designer and a group of vendors, the community, the
city and the neighbors," says Helms-Maletic."Hopefully in 2010 we'll
begin construction and open the new market in 2011."
The farmers market has over 120 vendors
throughout the summer who sell locally-produced fruits, vegetables,
baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, handcrafts and more. This year,
for the first time, the market has the technology in place to accept
food stamps.
Source: Christine Helms-Maletic,
Photo:
Fulton Street Farmers Market
Photo by Joshua Tyron -All Rights Reserved
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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