Water Street farmers market location raising issues

Water Street farmers market location raising issues

While most of the visitors and villagers in Brockport seem happy with the move of the Sunday Farmers Market to Water Street from its original location on Market Street, there are some merchants and tenants in the area who bemoan the loss of parking spaces.

The market was moved when the Park Avenue bridge was out of commission for close to five weeks. The municipal parking lot on Water Street, near the canal and the Welcome Center, was chosen as a temporary location for the Farmers Market, which is in its fourth year.

At the village board meeting on October 1, Mayor Mort Wexler read from a letter received from a downtown merchant who was not happy with the loss of parking spaces because of the relocation of the market.

Trustee Carrie Maziarz, who has been in charge of the market from its beginnings, said, “The store owner’s concerns are noteworthy and legitimate as they relate to the objections to parking,” she said. “When we moved the market, we really weren’t aware that the movie crew would be taking up so many spaces on Main Street for the filming - that impacted the parking as well.”

Maziarz noted that the market has been in its new spot for six weeks and this was the first objection that has been raised. “The firemen were thrilled that the market was no longer in front of the fire house,” she said. “The individuals who come to the market, the vendors, and many of the downtown merchants are happy with the new location. Now that the film crew is gone, the parking situation has eased.”

With less than a month left in the market’s season, Maziarz said she “strongly feels” the market needs to remain at the Water Street location.

Wexler said he had heard from vendors that they were happy with the location.

Trustee Connie Castaneda said that while it’s hard to please everyone, the board has to consider the impact its decisions will have on individuals. “There have been concerns in the past with the market and that is unfortunate. We didn’t talk to the merchants, the property owners or the tenants - we held an emergency meeting and moved the market - it should have been discussed at a workshop.”

Maziarz took exception to Castaneda’s comments. “There was no emergency meeting called to move the market. I didn’t make a decision willy nilly to move the market,” she said. Maziarz said she spoke with merchants and department heads. “I find it offensive for you to say that I didn’t speak to the merchants when I approached the head of the merchant’s association. There were no impromptu decisions made.”

Castaneda said she was “appalled” when she heard that a tenant’s car had been towed from the lot because the farmers market had taken over the municipal parking lot.

“We have worked very hard to make this market successful and no matter where we have it, there are going to be people inconvenienced when it comes to parking,” she said.

A motion was made for the market to remain at the Water Street location for the remainder of the season, which ends October 28.