© John Hilton

Fixed up, finally

The city cleans up the Farmers' Market

by Vickie Elmer

posted 6/14/2009

As the Ann Arbor Farmers Market prepares to celebrate its ninetieth anniversary, the market will get new lights, a PA system, and a paint job. But it will not get more stalls, a pavilion, or a storm-water management system. After six years of discussion—and at least $142,000 in planning expenses—the additional items were tabled because the estimated cost of all the improvements had ballooned from $700,000 to $1.5 million. The vendors don’t mind—the ones we talked to just want a cleaner, more usable market: lights for their 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. unpacking of petunias and produce, peeling paint removed, and leaking gutters fixed. That work will be done in June and July, says market manager Molly Notarianni, and everything should be finished in time for the anniversary celebration August 8.   

[Originally published in June, 2009.]