Old Town Scottsdale Farmer’s Market summit held at City Hall
Staff Writer | Mayor of Scottsdale
On Monday, March 17, Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky, joined two fellow councilmembers at City Hall to discuss the future of the Old Town Scottsdale Farmer’s Market.
In February, by a vote of 6 to 1, Scottsdale City Council approved Resolution No. 13318 directing city staff to execute a design contract in the amount of $1,629,553.02 with the Chasse Building Team for a two-story public parking structure to be constructed at the corner of 1st Street and Brown Avenue.
Mayor Lisa Borowsky was the lone vote against the parking structure pointing out the inappropriate location and lack of attention to design — and no plan for maintaining the Old Town Farmer’s Market, which has been operating at the street level for the past 15 years above the sparsely used underground parking lot every Saturday from October through June.
“I will continue to fight for the Old Town Farmer’s Market and for the overall design considerations of both our downtown and Old Town sectors,” Mayor Borowsky said in a prepared statement. “My colleagues insisted on moving forward with paving over paradise on a Saturday afternoon for a parking lot that does not, and will not sit well with me.”
The March 17 Farmers Market summit held in the afternoon hours at City Hall was attended by both market and City Hall leadership including Judy Doyle, Scottsdale public works director; Greg Caton, interim city manager; and Rachel Smetana, tourism director for the city.
“I listened more than I spoke yesterday and learned there is no plan in place to ensure the Old Town Farmer’s Market will remain a staple in Scottsdale. While I was dissatisfied with this information, I will work with our city staff to find a workable solution,” Mayor Borowsky said.
“I remain steadfast in my position that the corner of 1st and Brown is not the right location for this irreparable structure approved without hesitation by my colleagues.”
At the meeting yesterday at City Hall the owner of the Farmer’s Market, Dee Logan, expressed gratitude for the positive relationship with the city staff but remains concerned about the future of the market in Old Town Scottsdale.
Mayor Borowsky says she will work until a permanent home of the Old Town Farmer’s Market.
“I am not against parking nor am I against cars on our roads — what a ridiculous notion perpetuated by my political opponents,” Mayor Borowsky said. “Just a few weeks ago, the Scottsdale City Council voted unanimously to approve an additional parking garage nearby. There are many more attractive, alternatives that make far more sense than the one at 1st and Brown.”
