Minutes 04/23/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, APRIl, 23, 1998 & Mattern Study done for the City had recommended the relocation of the current Farmer's Market. Other markets examined included those in Blacksburg, Salem, Roanoke, and Galax. Discussion then took place among Council, Ms. Ben Joseph and Mr. Reeves regarding the various aspects of the operations and needs of such markets, and the preferences of those who use them. Council Member Dallas then asked how the recommended site for relocation, on the parking lot at the corner of Church and Moss Streets, was chosen. Mr. Reeves stated that the 1992 Master Plan mentioned earlier recommended this site. Mr. Dallas then stated that if the market were to be relocated the parking lot at the corner of Broad Street and Church Street would be preferable, but he saw no reason to leave the current Fayette Street site. Mr. Reeves stated that traffic flow at that site is poor, and Mr. Dallas stated that this project might improve traffic flow there. Mr. Dallas also stated that the only complaint he had ever gotten from the farmers using the current site was that the lighting there was inadequate. Mr. Reynolds commented that the City owns both the Fayette Street and Moss Street sites, but does not own the Broad Street lot. He also suggested that when the current School Bus Garage facility is removed from the FayeRe Street site there will be the opportunity to promote construction of a substantial new building on that site, but that such an opportunity does not exist at the Moss Street site. Mr. Teague then noted that the new location should attract more people to the Uptown area. Mr. Reynolds then commented that there might be a way to make use of both markets if a new one is built. Mr. Dallas repeated his belief that efforts should be made to improve on the existing market first, to which the Mayor replied that there was a need to find out why more folks don't make use of the existing facility. Ms. Ben Joseph stated that there were visibility and accessibility problems with the current location. Mr. Dallas then stated that the current market should be given a chance, and that the City cannot afford to keep spending money on every idea we have. In response to Mayor Adams' question, the estimated cost for the new Farmer's Market Project was given as $200,000 to $300,000, with $138,000 of this estimate for the structure itself. In response to a question from Council Member Haskell, Ms. Ben Joseph stated and Mr. Reeves stated that the adjacent property owners to the proposed site were all positively inclined to the project, with the only concern