Troy farmers' market drops out of 1 Monument Square plan
From the latest batch of proposed renderings for the project.
The Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market has announced that it's withdrawing from the proposed plan to redevelop the 1 Monument Square site in downtown Troy. The market had been slated to occupy a street-level retail space in the mixed-used development, as well as make use of surrounding plaza space.
Said farmers' market board chair Seth Jacobs in a statement released Wednesday afternoon:
"Changes to the scope of the One Monument Square project greatly reduced the footprint the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market would have occupied while increasing the cost to the market, and it has become clear the available space would not allow us to offer the ideal experience to customers, nor to our vendors. We understand the developer has encountered major engineering challenges and site constraints as the project has progressed, and we respect that. However, it is our organization's goal to be fiscally responsible in order to ensure all who enjoy the market are able to have a positive experience for years to come."
The press release also included a statement from Joseph Kirchhoff, CEO of the Kirchhoff Companies, which has been working to develop the project with Sequence Development: "We know that our project when completed will be an outstanding addition to downtown Troy, enhancing the quality of life for both existing and future Troy residents. We will continue to support the Market at its downtown location and look forward to the Market vendors taking advantage of the public plaza created around the future One Monument Square building."
This news isn't that surprising.
Back in October Kirchoff's Jeff Kane said at a city planning commission meeting that the allotted space for the market was "undefined" because the market was assessing its needs. And there was some discussion about the possibility of another tenant occupying the retail space.
The inclusion of the farmers' market had been one of the main selling points for this latest attempt to redevelop 1 Monument Square. The original plan, pitched back in February of 2014, included 20,000 square feet of space for the farmers' market in one of two proposed buildings. As the plan evolved, the space for the market shrank -- to 17,500 square feet in September of 2014, and then to 9,872 square feet this past summer as the project became one building.
It'll be interesting to see how this new affects the arc of this situation. The current plan is facing organized opposition from a group calling itself We Care About the Square -- it's argued the plan differs too much from the original idea used to win the city's request for proposal process, and it's threatened to sue if the project isn't re-bid.
The developers are facing a potentially key moment this Friday when the Troy IDA is scheduled to vote on a $11.7 million aid package of tax breaks and other incentives. Update: That vote has been postponed. [Biz Review x2]
As of the end of this past October, the proposed development included one building with 75-80 residential units, 84 parking spaces on ground level, and street-level restaurant and retail space. The cost was projected to be $24.3 million.
Earlier
+ AOA: The 1 Monument Square project and its opponents
+ Biz Review: Developer faces doubts, questions over One Monument Square in downtown Troy
+ AOA: A look at the latest plan for the 1 Monument Square project in Troy (2015 July)
+ AOA: The latest 1 Monument Square plan evolves (2014 September)
+ AOA: The new plan for redeveloping the Monument Square site in downtown Troy (2014 February)
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Comments
Dear Estee Lauder, Please express 1 case of lipstick to the City of Troy, because this project is turning into one big pig.
... said Cyril on Nov 18, 2015 at 3:43 PM | link
Let's just put the new City Council Chambers there, right on the ground floor.
That way Troy residents can walk right in and kick their Councilmember right in the behind on their way to work each morning. Maybe they can grab a tomato or delicata squash from the Farmer's Market on the weekends to huck their way too.
Remind me again how we're revitalizing Troy, where everyone wants to relocate, by offering huge decades-long tax breaks to corporations when the City is broke? To say nothing of the potential plan to raise property taxes by 10% on the people who already live there. How stupid is the IDA or better yet, how corrupt?
... said RustyShackleford on Nov 18, 2015 at 5:55 PM | link
12 Million dollar aid package... If this isn't voted down, somebody's going to prison. Because there has to be pay-outs involved here.
... said mikea. on Nov 18, 2015 at 7:00 PM | link
My question is: was it ever the intention of the farmer's market to operate its proposed space in this building throughout the week? If not, it seems a waste of potentially really desirable real estate if it was only going to be used for a few hours each Saturday.
I like the farmer's market very much, but getting a full-time grocery store back downtown seems like a more significant goal if we really want to make Troy a self-sustaining, walkable community.
... said Jack on Nov 19, 2015 at 10:51 AM | link