Farmers Market Plan to be Unveiled

The City of Greenwood and consultants Seamon Whiteside and Associates will host a presentation for the proposed  Uptown Farmers Market and Railroad Historical Center masterplan. The presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. August 22 in the Mays Reception Hall at the Federal Building.

Talks about potentially relocating the Greenwood County Farmers Market to a spot on lower Maxwell Avenue have been ongoing for some time. The current farmers market is still operating at its longtime location off Highway 72/221, behind the old civic center.

The current Railroad Historic Center continues to operate at its South Main Street location.

Greenwood city manager Charlie Barrineau recently talked about what residents can expect if they attend the Aug. 22 masterplan unveiling.

“They can expect to see a final conceptual masterplan that has been developed in partnership with the community and that incorporates citizen input received through the course of several public meetings,” Barrineau said. “This masterplan is not a final design, ready to be constructed, but provides a direction on which subsequent design can be based.

“It provides a vision and clear path from which to move forward.”

The city manager said the consultants will have large drawings of the proposed farmers market plan for residents to view. He also said the consultants will offer an opinion on what the proposed farmers market/railroad center would cost, as proposed.

City officials have indicated hospitality tax dollars would be used for the construction of a prospective farmers market/railroad center.

Barrineau said there will be an opportunity for public feedback at the Aug. 22 presentation.

The city manager said the unveiling of the masterplan is just one step in the process of eventually establishing a new market.

“I anticipate city council will discuss the masterplan in detail at a future work session,” he said.  “Based on that discussion, city council could officially take action to endorse the plan.  If council is in agreement with the plan, council may decide to include funding in their 2012 budget to begin implementation of a phasing strategy.”

Barrineau noted the partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce to place two pilot market stands on Maxwell Avenue has been well received.  The city manager said he thinks the success of the stands proves there is a demand for fresh and local produce in Uptown.

The "Red Plan," shown above has received the overall largest amount of public feedback.  It is anticipated that the final plan presented Monday, August 22 will be a hybrid design of the three plans (red, green, and yellow).