FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Glens Falls and Glens Falls Farmers Market Board of Directors Discuss Event & Market Center Building and Uses
GLENS FALLS, NY – February 6, 2024 – Representatives from the Glens Falls Farmers Market Board of Directors (GFFM BOD) recently met with Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins, Economic Development Director Jeff Flagg and Community Development Director Patrick Dowd to discuss the future of the Glens Falls Farmers Market (GFFM) and the City’s new Event and Market Center, under construction on South Street.
In a constructive conversation, the GFFM BOD expressed its appreciation for the opportunity to present members concerns and questions regarding the new Event and Market Center. Key points discussed included:
- The design of the proposed building and its suitability for the effective operation of the current farmers market.
- The GFFM’s expectations of the necessity of a four-season building as per initial plans and concerns that the current design may not meet this expectation.
- The GGFM stated the need for a layout that supports market growth without the closure of streets in the South Street area.
- The GGFM stated that maintaining regular market hours without blackout dates was crucial for the vendors and the community relying on the Market.
The City of Glens Falls acknowledged these concerns and explained multiple options to address the concerns, recognizing that the DRI plan that the City developed and that the state approved leaves little room for significant changes to the design.
The City’s proposals include street closure as a potential feature, to allow growth without the footprint of the lot being an impediment. The City also reiterated that the state has made clear that their investment of up to $5 million for this DRI project included the expectation that the Event and Market Center be used to the fullest extent possible to support the resurgence of the South Street corridor, and the City worked in a number of ways to propose interior and exterior layouts to accommodate multiple types of events.
The GFFM BOD is set to review all options and bring them to their membership for further discussion and a decision through a majority vote.
The GFFM expressed gratitude for the City’s assurance to continue operations at the South Street Pavilion for the summer of 2024, which the City gladly provided. This gesture underscores the City’s commitment to supporting the GFFM and its significant role in serving over 1,000 residents of Glens Falls and surrounding areas with fresh local produce and quality goods. The City understands the importance of the Farmers Market to drive economic activity and bring people downtown, and committed to working with the GFFM.
Further discussions are expected to revolve around the optimization of available space of the new market building, the execution of a traffic pattern analysis, an examination of alternative locations for the GFFM within Glens Falls, and the exploration of ownership or purchasing options for the Pavilion.
The GFFM emphasizes the importance of unity in its dealings with the City and is committed to collaboration and cooperation, and the GFFM emphasizes transparently communicating all developments to its members and the public.
