Comments on: Possible Farmers Market at Liberty Lofts

By: Fred Zimmerman

Fred Zimmerman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:28:57 +0000

Great idea to use the Georgetown mall. From the article John linked, sounds as if any change at the Georgetown mall is going to require significant infusion of cash from someone.

Where’s that stimulus money when we need it?

By: John

John — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:41:12 +0000

The abandoned Georgetown Mall site might be a good opportunity for developing an indoor market. It's got plenty of parking, quick access from other parts of the city, and is close to the highways. It would require new construction, but an energy-efficient structure similar to the many indoor markets around the country might be financially feasible. It doesn't need to be a Somerset Collection for vegetables and cheese. Could the city help broker some kind of deal with the mortgage-holder? Recent article on Georgetown's demise: link

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:09:23 +0000

I had hoped Aldi would move in there.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:41:00 +0000

This is a fabulous idea!
It should avoid Wednesday, and probably not be on Saturday for a year or two, to see how it differs from the Farmers market.
There could be much more to eat at the place, and a good proportion of non-food stalls (arts and crafts, yogistas etc.).

It may draw more people from outside Ann Arbor to both markets, or it may increase local non motor traffic. We live the other side of Seventh and could easily walk or bike. One stall should be leased to Great Lakes Bikes or someone to sell bike baskets and panniers!

Flooding is not a big issue for stall-type fixtures without much permanent goods inside.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:34:51 +0000

I think this is a great idea — and one that is long overdue in a place like Ann Arbor. It should be open at least 6 days a week, until at least 6 pm, so people heading home from work can grab some things there for dinner.

If there were one management, with them doing the subleases for the market tenants, that could work, I would think. Either that, or make it a cooperative.

That indoor space is perfect for such a venture, and that is one thing that downtown needs more of — food shopping.

By: Marvin Face

Marvin Face — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:03:11 +0000

UMGrad, I was reacting to the breathless explanations of other indoor markets as if one did not already exist in Ann Arbor.

I wonder if people are reacting more to the architecture of the space rather than the need. Sure, its open, airy, bright…why not a market! But is that what we need? Another market in downtown only a few blocks away from an existing one? I don’t buy it.

I like the existing farmers market but don’t go very often because I have my own garden and supplement with a CSO.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:39:30 +0000

A good question about the days to be held. To make it economically viable, I would think it would have to be open most days. The indoor markets I have visited in some other cities seemed to be open consistently. But for small producers, that would be difficult to reconcile with other time needs.

By: Alan Goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:16:44 +0000

Without parking this isn’t going to happen. Pedicabs or no pedicabs. But it’s a wonderful idea.

By: KT

KT — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:55:07 +0000

I am curious about what days the market would be held– Saturdays and Wednesdays would compete with the Kerrytown Farmer’s Market though it sounds like the products offered would vary somewhat from the Kerrytown market. Sundays might be a good idea. Or would this be a multiple day market? I look forward to hearing more as the idea develops.

By: UMGrad1234

UMGrad1234 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:41:25 +0000

Marvin,

Are you saying that area of town proposed for the indoor market isn’t a good spot, or are you saying that Ann Arbor only needs one indoor market (Kerrytown)? More than anything, I actually think competition is good. The price fixing extravaganza that is the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market drives me crazy and, frankly, drove me away from shopping there for the most part.