Waterfront Farmers’ Market ponders its future
TROY, N.Y. >> The Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market is asking the public input into the market’s future.
On Wednesday, Nov. 7, the market will host a community workshop from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Franklin Plaza Ballroom in downtown. The workshop will be led by Project for Public Spaces ( PPS), an internationally renowned “placemaking” consultant.
The workshop will also provide the community with a chance to hear about the success stories from public markets across the country.
“The market has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years,” Zack Metzger, president of the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market said. “We are really excited about that growth, but we need to address some of the issues we are facing, such as the need for a permanent home for the market in a space that’s big enough to grow.
“When we consider what that means for Troy and for farmers in our area, we see a lot of potential.”
Founded in 2000, the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market started as a semi-regular open-air market designed to bring fresh local produce, meats and activity to a beautiful but vacant downtown. The market currently attracts upwards of 15,000 visitors per week and has steadily grown into one of the Capital Region’s top attractions.
It’s also recognized as one of the best markets in the Capital Region as well as the state.
In recent years, the City of Troy has allowed the market to occupy the streets around Monument Square on Saturdays from May through October.
Since 2002, the market has moved indoors from November through April, as a Saturday tenant of the Troy Atrium, owned by David Bryce of Bryce Properties. On Saturday Nov. 3, the market heads indoors to the atrium for the season.
“The market is very appreciative of the great partnership we’ve had over many years with the City of Troy, downtown businesses and David Bryce,” Metzger said. “The community has supported the market in a huge way, which has enabled us to create a first rate marketplace.
“Now it’s time for us all to consider creating a first rate Market Hall and discussing what that would look like and how our programs could expand, and what it would mean for the city of Troy and the Capital Region as a whole.”
Metzger also added the mar- ket’s leadership feels that now is the time to leverage its success with a permanent market hall, which will bring many additional opportunities and benefits to its vendors and the community and will contribute in many more ways to the social, economic, and cultural life of Troy.
One of the major issues up for discussion, when considering a permanent market hall space, is how the market can increase its days of operations. Another issue is location. Two of the sites commonly mentioned in talks about a year-round market hall are the Troy Atrium and One Monument Square, the vacant site previously occupied by the former Troy City Hall.
“The famers’ market could be a crucial anchor component in a partnership to redevelop One Monument Square and we welcome the public’s input on that issue,” Metzger said. “Wemust also be open to other possibilities.”
The Farmers’ Market Community Workshop will occur two days after Troy Mayor Patrick Madden’s community workshop regarding the One Monument Square site.
“A lot of people absolutely love the market in the streets, but not everyone,” Metzger said. “We want everyone to voice their opinion and for our consultants Project for Public Places to take it all into consideration before making their recommendations to us.”
Based in New York City, Project for Public Spaces has a more than 40-year history of consulting some of the most successful markets in North America and around the world.
“Like many markets around the country, Troy’s Farmers’ Market is hitting a growth moment where it makes sense for them to start thinking about the future and whether the next steps include an expansion, a new location, a better location, more programming,” Kelly Verel, vice president of Project for Public Spaces said. “There are a lot of markets around
the country that are 20, 30, 40 years old.
“They led the charge of urban revival and these markets are now reaching a point where they’re saying ‘ What’s next?’ So in that sense Troy is not alone.”
Verel also added, Project for Public Spaces will be making their first trip to Troy next week, though they have hosted representatives of the Troy market during a market training session in New York. She also notes that Project for Public Spaces has worked with many similar sized markets in Washington, Penn., Santa Fe, New Mexico, Flint, Mich. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“One of our big points we like to make is that markets are more successful when
they evolve,” Verel said. “Troy’s slow, steady growth and self-reflection will be key to the market’s continued success.”
While not required, the public is asked to RSVP to the Nov. 7 Community Workshop by visiting the market’s facebook page. The direct facebook event link is: https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m/ events/547293015716908/
Metzger said the market wants to know the concerns of local businesses, residents and customers.
“Now is the time to participate in our planning process and be heard,” he added. “We want to be partners with the community and work together to create a world class attraction.”