Year-round market seen in New Bohemia

Backers of a year-round farmers market are in talks with owners of a potential site in New Bohemia, in case the former Quality Chef site proves unusable.

Cedar Rapids City Market Inc., which has been working on plans for the market, hopes to have a site secured by spring.

A report is expected next month on the flooddamaged, city-owned Quality Chef site in New Bohemia.

Sarah Ordover, board president of Cedar Rapids City Market, said that site, at 1100 Third St. SE, remains the market's “number one possibility.” Another option is being explored in case environmental issues are found at the site that would take years of remediation.

“We don't want to wait two years,” Ordover said.

“We have so much momentum ... we'd rather act sooner than later.” Greg Eyerly, the city's flood-recovery director, said the Code Enforce ment division is evaluating the Quality Chef site for flood damage and possible or likely demolition.

Eyerly said once demolition has started on the city's fire-damaged Sinclair site, the Quality Chef site will follow within months.

Environmental issues at the site, which are still unknown, could affect the schedule, he said.

Ordover said Loftus Distributing; the Ground Transportation Center and Science Station were eliminated as potential sites for various reasons, such as size and cost.

Citing the preliminary stage of discussions, she didn't identify the other site under consideration in New Bohemia, which consists of multiple lots.

A phase 1 report issued by Project for Public Spaces, a New York nonprofit planning organization, concluded that locating the market in New Bohemia would be a catalyst for growth.

The report noted the market also has the potential to revitalize downtown and adjacent flood affected neighborhoods.

According to the report, the site should include a 9,000- to 12,000square-foot market house; 10,000-square-foot market yard and parking.

The report also concluded:

The initial market should operate two days a week, expanding in stages based on demand.

The market house could consist of a market store, café, day stalls for vendors and event/seating/gathering space.

The market has the potential to capture $2.1 million in annual sales.

Ordover said the market would not replace the large-scale Downtown Farmers Market, but she hopes the group can work with the city on seasonal farmers markets.