KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The City of Kalamazoo has passed a motion to purchase 636 Lake Street to expand the Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market.
During a City Commission meeting Monday night, the board voted to adopt the plan, which includes a realignment of Bank Street.
Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Director Sean Fletcher says the realignment of Bank Street will make the area safer and more pedestrian-friendly.
“You would have a dedicated sidewalk and a protected bike lane along Bank Street, so people will be able to cycle through Upjohn Park and then right to the Farmers’ Market,” Fletcher said. “The thought was you will have restrooms there, that’s a good place for people to maybe stop and just check out the Farmers’ Market or continue on down south.”
Fletcher also explained some of the planned updates for the Market itself.
“If you’ve ever been to the market, there is almost always a line to go to the bathroom,” Fletcher said. “Where the current restoom building and office is now, that will get a makeover and we will double the amount of toilets and sinks that are currently there.”
The plan also makes provisions for expanding the parking areas of the Market.
“The new site would have approximately 375 parking spaces,” Fletcher said. “Roughly 250 now, 260, it really depends on how parking gets done in that south MRC lot. If you get two or three cars spaced out, it really reduces the number. We would roughly be adding a little over a hundred spaces to the site.”
Early expectations for the plan completion are slated for sometime in 2020. The price for the property was agreed for $37,000, plus closing costs.
