The Northville Farmers Market is shopping for a new location.
The proposed development of the Northville Downs property will necessitate the move of the market from the current Seven Mile Road and Center Street location by 2024. Representatives from Hunter Pasteur Northville, LLC, developer of the Downs property said plans for the development will force the market to move.
During a recent presentation to the city council, members of the Farmers Market Task Force explained that they had reviewed 15 potential sites for the market and eventually selected the property formerly occupied by McDonald Ford near the intersection of Seven Mile Road and Main Street as the preferred site. There were two other sites the task force members also found desirable for the market, the city Foundry Flask property and the downtown post office property.
The Foundry Flask property, however, was recently sold to a residential developer and there is no projected date for the long rumored and discussed relocation of the post office.
“The post office property would have been exceptional, but we can't count on the land being vacated any time soon, even though there has been discussion about it relocating since I've lived in Northville,” said Task Force Chair Andrew Krenz during the meeting presentation.
The goal is the construction of a 12,000 square-foot building to serve the 34,000 shoppers who utilize the market vendors during the months it is open. Task force members explained that the costs for the project will have to be funded by grants and donations. Included in the plans are adjacent amenities and parking. Task force members said the site could develop into a multi-purpose facility used by the public and available year round.
“The business plan for this project is critical,” explained Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Morowski-Browne. “A project like this has to be self-sustaining because it certainly can't be a future financial burden to the chamber of commerce or the city.”
