(This letter is written by Susan Moore of Chelsea.)
Last year. the Chelsea Downtown Development Authority (DDA) purchased property on Main Street once part of Palmer Ford. So far there has been lots of wishful thinking about how to use the property but little actual realistic planning.
The most talked about plan comes from a group claiming to represent a cross section of Chelsea citizens. They want to move the Farmers Market to this location. But the group appears to have fewer than a dozen people, hardly representative.
They want covered vendor spaces, restrooms, a kitchen, green space and wi-fi. They have no idea how much all this will cost or if it will all fit onto the site. Another problem is that there is only one curb-cut so adequate entrance and exit is questionable.
Based on this wish list the DDA went to the City Council Jan. 6 with a bond proposal to borrow nearly $1 million including a “guesstimate” request for $500,000 for the Palmer lot as well as nearly $450,000 more for development of the Longworth corridor next to the railroad and new construction along Main Street.
The council said “no” citing lack of information and failure to follow planning procedure.
City Council and the DDA have scheduled a work session next Monday, Jan 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Police Station Council Chamber. The public is invited to help decide what will become of this prime property in downtown Chelsea.
I wonder if the Palmer lot is actually the best site for the Farmers Market. Heavy traffic could be a safety hazard. Last spring when the Chelsea Area Garden Club held its plant sale on the Palmer lot traffic was so heavy that the police needed to place two officers to direct traffic.
This coming year the Farmers Market may want to consider using the Palmer lot on a trial basis.
I also think that expensive redevelopment of the Palmer lot is not the only option. The lot could remain a parking lot and be available for other special event use not just Farmers Market.
For now I hope the DDA will scale back their funding request and perhaps eventually offer a professionally prepared, detailed, multi-phase plan that will serve all the businesses and citizens of Chelsea.
Susan J. Moore
Chelsea
In addition, there has been much consideration to the bike clubs that ride to Chelsea to rest here before riding to their next destination.I wonder how much revenue is generated verses the suggested accommodation costs for a single group?