The $270,000 in question actually should be used for infrastructure improvements at our perpetually orphaned amphitheater. If applied to the farmers market, it would be money better spent to move the market to the municipal parking lot between State and West 1st, freeing the current location for residential infill construction.
However, the central point has not changed: For a farmers market to be successful, what we need are vendors with food, and consumers to buy it. That's all, and these we have in place already. The farmers market likely would continue to function in the same way as it does now, situated atop any number of downtown surface parking lots. I'd continue to buy tomatoes there.
The ongoing absence of a downtown economic development plan is a prime culprit in the confusion surrounding issues like this. In this specific instance, we're seeing somewhat the rational and correct outcome. However, it still must survive election politics in 2015.
Let's wait and see who needs a plaque six months from now before bowing to the prevailing giddiness.
New Albany Farmers Market project not high on priority list, by Daniel Suddeath (Tuscaloosa Down Low Times)
NEW ALBANY — Plans to expand the downtown New Albany Farmers Market are on the back burner, though city officials said they remain open to improving the existing facility in less expensive ways ...
... A committee consisting of council members Diane McCartin-Benedetti, Scott Blair, Shirley Baird and Gonder met once this year after the initial project was delayed. Benedetti said council members generally expressed that they wanted to wait until after planner Jeff Speck completes his New Albany street study to move forward with any project regarding the farmers market ...
... (Scott) Blair believes the market is successful where it’s at without the additional features called for in the improvement project.
“I think that project is more on the back burner now,” he said. “I do think we’d like to add some portable restrooms.”
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