Atrium could house bazaar year-round
Officials in discussions with developer on expansion of Troy Farmers Market
The popular Troy Waterfront Farmers Market may find a permanent year-round indoor home in the Troy Atrium ending a years-long search to expand beyond its Saturday market as it moves into its 20th season.
The farmers market has been discussing with David Bryce, the downtown developer who owns the Atrium, the possibility of expanding beyond its wintertime residence, said Zack Metzger, president of the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, in a statement issued Monday.
“Right now, we are learning more about David Bryce’s vision for the Atrium and we are thinking about how a marketplace in the building would work,” said Metzger, who operates Laughing Earth farm in Cropseyville.
“The programming opportunities we have discussed so far would be a major
improvement to our market, allowing vendors to have a physical presence in downtown Troy during the week. This would be a great addition to our Saturday market in the winter and would complement, but not replace, our successful outdoor market during the summer and fall,” Metzger said.
“The addition of a marketplace in the Atrium is going to drive even more excitement and investment in downtown Troy in the next decade. I’m thrilled to be working with them on this project,” Bryce said in the statement.
Bryce could not be reached Monday to speak about his plans for a redesigned Atrium.
The farmers market at one time was looking at space in a redeveloped 1 Monument Square site. In 2014, Kirchhoff Cos. of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, had plans to create a $25 million mixed-use development at 1 Monument Square that included 17,500 square feet for a home for the farmers market. That proposal fell through. In June 2018, the farmers market made it known that it wanted space in any proposal the city drafted for new plans to develop 1 Monument Square. The city has not issued any requests for proposals for the former City Hall site since holding hearings to solicit public comment last summer.
The farmers market said its preliminary discussions envision between 20 and 25 booths with flexible spaces with an entrance on the Atrium’s Broadway side adjacent to the existing loading bay.
The outdoor market would continue to operate. It is one of downtown Troy’s biggest attractions, drawing thousands to the city every Saturday.
The farmers market moves back outside Saturdaymay4from9a.m.to2 p.m., on River Street and around Monument Square. It remains outdoors through October before moving back inside from November through April.