Farmers’ market building to close for three months next year for roof repairs

The uncertainty continues for the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market.

The City of Saskatoon announced Thursday via email that the Riversdale building that has housed the farmers’ market since 2007 needs repairs that will take three months.

City council opted in September to seek proposals as an attempt to expand animation in the building to six nights a week. That move was opposed by supporters of the current market, which operates Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.

The city has offered to extend the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market Co-operative lease until the end of the year and the group has agreed, according to the city. The repairs to address “water issues” with the roof are slated to take place at the start of 2020, a city news release says.

The release says the city received two proposals to lease the building.

“However, awarding the lease to a tenant, only to close the building for a lengthy period, would be unfair,” it states.

City officials and farmers’ market representatives could not be reached for comment after the news release was issued late on Thursday afternoon. The farmers’ market lease was set to expire in May.

The city administration announced in September it wanted to seek new options for the farmers’ market building to try to increase “animation” at the site. That news release was also sent out late on a Thursday afternoon.

Vendors turned out over a twoday

Awarding the lease to a tenant, only to close the building for a lengthy period, would be unfair.

city council meeting in September to push for the market to be left alone, arguing that more nights would dilute the offerings and diminish the space as a true farmers’ market.

Council voted overwhelmingly to seek other options.

The Saskatoon Farmers’ Market has operated since 1975. Its current 19th Street location at River Landing is a former city electrical garage. The A.L. Cole power plant used to be located south of the farmers’ market building.