Home Latest Stories How was the Farmers’ Market dilemma finally resolved?

How was the Farmers’ Market dilemma finally resolved?

Mar 28, 2016

“Looking forward to a great year for the market as it comes back to its rightful home in the historic district.” – Ellen Mershon

Loveland, Ohio – Ellen Mershon responded to the news that the Loveland Farmers’ Market (LFM) will return to Historic Downtown Loveland by saying, “Hoping that Tuesdays will continue to be market day in historic Loveland for many years to come.”

On Wednesday, market manager, Donna Bednar announced via Loveland Magazine that she and City Manager Dave Kennedy came to an agreement that the market would be held at the new McCoy parking lot on Broadway, adjacent to the Loveland Bike Trail and between Loveland Canoe and Kayak and Eads Fence Company.

ellen-at-market — **Singer/songwriter, Ellen Mershon regulary performs at the Loveland Farmers’ Market on Tueadays.**

Mershon was one of the organizers of The Friends of the Loveland Farmers’ Market who organized efforts and packed city hall meetings to advocate for the return of the market to Historic Downtown this season. She also said, “While certainly Jackson Street Market would have been the optimal choice, I’m glad the option for the McCoy parking lot was fully explored and both parties have come into agreement.”

Bednar said, “The support generated from the Friends of the Loveland Farmers’ Market effort, the numerous businesses in and outside of historic Loveland, the market vendors, as well as the general community has been phenomenal.”

Bednar and Kennedy worked for months to find a solution after Kennedy said he could not grant a permit to return the weekly event to downtown’s Jackson Street Market, or any downtown location. In January he said, “My concern is that the downtown area simply can’t handle the traffic the event brings in due to how it has grown in popularity. My hope is that we can find a location that works well for the market while not adding to the downtown traffic congestion.”

Bednar, founder of LFM, hoped to return to Historic Downtown after a one-year hiatus last year at the former Loveland Lanes next to Kroger on Loveland Madeira Road. Kennedy also said in January, “I realize this is difficult because I’m asking the market to move from where it started. It is particularly difficult because when I worked with Donna to move to the bowling alley last year, I had hoped that the market could return to downtown this year.”

Last week, Bednar said, “Mr. Kennedy made finding a location a priority. We had four or five meetings plus numerous phone calls and other communications. He and I both wanted a positive solution for the market and the residents of Loveland. Mr. Weisgerber, Mrs. Bailey and Mr. Phelps have been very supportive and I am very grateful.”

[quote_left]Bednar said, “The support generated from the Friends of the Loveland Farmers’ Market effort, the numerous businesses in and outside of historic Loveland, the market vendors, as well as the general community has been phenomenal.”[/quote_left]Bednar told Loveland Magazine on January 12 that LFM, operating since 2010, may not open at all this season. The market runs from May to October on Tuesday afternoons. Its original site was where the Loveland Station Apartments have been built. Because, that city-owned property was sold, the Jackson Street Market was built on land owned by the Loveland Firefighters Association so that LFM would have a permanent home. Both the firefighters and city taxpayers paid for the construction. During construction of the apartments last year, LFM moved to the temporary home of the former bowling alley, with the promise they could return in 2016 to downtown. However, last fall the bowling alley was demolished and the city is actively marketing the land. It could not be used for LFM this season.

The deciding factor for Bednar to agree to the McCoy parking lot location was ability to have the market remain in historic Loveland. She said, “The original requirements are worked out right now including trash, storage, and restrooms. I will be incurring additional expense this year for police coverage to manage traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian.”

The McCoy parking lot is still under construction. Kennedy said the project should be fully completed by late May to early June and the blacktop should be completed before May 3. “We are in contact with the contractor regularly. Other parts of the project, such as landscaping and lighting, will continue after the Market begins.”

farm-market-vendor — **A vendor at last year’s Loveland Farmers’Market at the bowling alley.**

“My main concern from the beginning to having the Market anywhere downtown was dealing with the traffic from the Branch Hill Guinea Closure,” Kennedy said. “Based on the recent notification it appears that the closure will be completed prior to the start of the Market. I think the McCoy lot allows the Market to be downtown while not interfering with the flow of traffic on West Loveland Avenue. The McCoy Parking lot has direct connectors to the Bike Trail for easy access, and it allows parking to be spread throughout downtown.”

Kennedy added, “I think the most important part of making this process successful was the City and the market working together to find a solution that works best for everyone. It was important for the city to immediately reach out to the contractor to get the McCoy Parking Lot project underway as soon as possible after the winter shutdown. While this helps the Market it is also good for the entire city to have the project completed as soon as possible. It will add much needed parking to downtown as summer approaches.”

Kennedy was asked what compromises he made. He said that the city modified the scope of the parking lot project for the addition of electric outlets which will benefit all events held at McCoy in the future. According to Kennedy, “It makes sense to have electric outlets at the site, and having them added now rather than later represents a savings.”

[quote_right]Donna and I worked together to find a solution. I think we found a good compromise for everyone.” – Dave Kennedy[/quote_right]According to Kennedy, the market has also agreed to supply a police officer for three hours each Tuesday, pay $30 a month for electric, which is what the monthly usage was last year when the market was held at the bowling alley, The Market will provide its own waste removal and restrooms. Finally the market agreed to supply a list of vendors to the city’s tax department each month and distribute business registration forms to all vendors. Other conditions include supplying general liability insurance, using tape rather than marking paint and agreeing not to drive stakes into the pavement which was standard in previous years.

Kennedy added, “This was never about trying to shut down the Market, but finding a location that works best both for the City and the market. Donna and I worked together to find a solution. I think we found a good compromise for everyone.”

Mershon said that she and her husband drove by the site of the McCoy parking lot last week. She said, “It appears they are working diligently to complete the project. I’m looking forward to a great year for the market as it comes back to its rightful home in the historic district.”