Playing the markets

A state-sponsored farmers market on the Capitol lawn was doing bang-up business in its first hour this morning. Does this event have anything to teach Lansing about the future of its City Market?

The market -- which will be going on until 3 p.m. today -- is backed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, with aid from other food and farming interests. The Lansing version lined the sidewalks of the lawn’s southeast quadrant and traffic was shoulder to shoulder in some places. I'd say there were 300 to 400 people there within a few minutes of the opening.

The wares ran the usual gamut of fresh vegetables to organics to craft products such as soap and some advocacy boths. Organizers also had the excellent idea of a kind of tote board, asking people how they heard about the market, where they were from, how much they spent and tips for improvement.

All in all, Lansing seemed to be responding. Of course, the sun was out, the Boji Tower sign was flashing a balmy 79 degrees and there was a built-in audience with downtown workers taking a break.

Then again, it was a weekday morning. Not everyone will or can plan to stop in for a little cherry shopping on a Thursday. Farmers markets traditionally are found on weekends, when people have more time.

And that goes to part of the longstanding problem with Lansing’s City Market.

The location at Cedar and Shiawassee has never stuck in the minds of enough shoppers. Advocates of the existing market like to argue that advertising is the problem. But advertising costs money and the City Market already gets a subsidy from the city (via LEPFA) and vendors are paying next to nothing for their space, which comes with a roof and utilities.

In essence, Lansing has funded what are small retailers and slapped the farmers market label on them. It has not worked.

For a long time, what has been the most obvious reform for Lansing is to adopt practices well-tested elsewhere. Madison, Wisc., for example, has been most successful with a farmers market along its capitol square. The market is seasonal, it’s well-located and it doesn’t try to mimic a full-blown retail establishment.

Developer Pat Gillespie has more recently pushed another alternative. As part of his Market Place development, he would buy up the aging City Market, put in housing and commercial space and build the market a new home in the middle of it.

While I still favor the Capitol approach, I’m truly at a loss to understand the opposition to Gillespie’s plan.

The existing market doesn’t work. The building needs $1 million in work. The subsidy is an affront to taxpayers when the stall rents are so low for vendors.

Gillespie’s effort creates a new home, with a built-in clientele of office workers and new downtown denizens. What’s not to like?

Downtown Lansing can and will support a farmers market. It has not and will not support the City Market as it is currently structured.

Once again, Lansing can embrace some change and have hopes for a better future, or it can cringe and watch the world pass it by.

Comments

[boots2]

With thousands of state workers downtown (but how did they get out of work in the middle of the morning?), plus the usual traffic there, it's no wonder the market is drawing crowds. Actually, anything going on at the Capitol lawn does.

You'd think the vendors at City Market would jump at the chance of having someone build them a brand new, up-to-date place. But no, they're caught up in sentimentality, which is easier to understand when you consider that they function as private businesses without the overhead, capital, and depreciation costs other businesses incur. You can afford to let sentimentality rule you when you don't have to pay the cost.

Let's face it, that building has no redeeming architectural value for the rest of us. However, anytime the city can increase tax revenues by having a new business build downtown, that's a plus for the future.

[boots2]

Just a thought - maybe one day the Capitol Loop could be extended to include the Lugnuts Stadium, the Market Place Development, and a nearby Performing Arts Center. Right now, there isn't much to entice visitors or residents away from Washington Square.

[rukidding]

I totally agree with the comments in the blog posting, especially the last sentence.