Detroit City Council approves management change at Eastern Market

[tomo]

Woohoo, the city council (minus the always outlying JoAnn Watson) has let Eastern Market free! This clears the path for some millions of dollars in funds, and the plan to turn the Eastern Market into a lively district more than just one day a week and increase the number of residents from the few dozen it is now. So much potential to be a year-round, daily local, regional, and national gem and tourist attraction (think Pike Place in Seattle, or the farmer's market near Petite Italie in Montreal).

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...NEWS99/60620005

[RustTown]

Good, good news! It wasn't unexpected, but still good to see formally completed. Since this is just a news bulletin, the actual blurb can be posted, right?

Detroit City Council approves management change at Eastern Market

June 20, 2006

By MARISOL BELLO

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Detroit City Council today allowed for the creation of the Eastern Market Corporation, paving the way for $17 million in planned renovations to the aging farmers market.

The council voted 8-1 to allow the new corporation to take over the day-to-day operations of the market, which had been run by the city's recreation department. The council had to approve the changes by today or risk losing $2 million from the Kresge Foundation to help with improvements to the market.

Councilwoman JoAnn Watson voted against the deal.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's administration has maintained that because of the city's ongoing budget problems, it can no longer afford to run such institutions. Officials pushed through similar deals with the Detroit Zoo and the Historical Museums earlier this year.

The process to revert control of the market to a non-profit has taken about a year. The city would still own the property.

"I'm excited to get going now," said Kate Beebe, the interim head of the newly formed corporation.

She said the plans for the market will include extending the days of operations, renovating several sheds and making infrastructure improvements to the market and the neighborhood surrounding it.

Contact MARISOL BELLO at 313-222-6678 or [email protected].

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...NEWS99/60620005

[illmatic774]

Woohoo, the city council (minus the always outlying JoAnn Watson) has let Eastern Market free! This clears the path for some millions of dollars in funds, and the plan to turn the Eastern Market into a lively district more than just one day a week and increase the number of residents from the few dozen it is now. So much potential to be a year-round, daily local, regional, and national gem and tourist attraction (think Pike Place in Seattle, or the farmer's market near Petite Italie in Montreal).

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...NEWS99/60620005

seriously, has she agreed with ANYTHING?!

[RustTown]

Come on, she is always and outlier, and her vote really doesn't even mean much of anything. Every council has at least one of these types of people, and it does nothing to keep mentioning her.

[illmatic774]

Come on, she is always and outlier, and her vote really doesn't even mean much of anything. Every council has at least one of these types of people, and it does nothing to keep mentioning her.

to tell you the truth, i'm just baffled

is she gettin paid to move against the grain, or doe she have an actual motive for pressing the "against" button...

[RustTown]

Her motive, she's made clear many times before. She doesn't believe in giving up any of the city's assets to any private group. I don't even pay attention to her anymore. She has a one-track mind; a very narrow worldview which makes her opinion rather meaningless to me. She's incredibly predictable.

[detroitfan]

I'm glad they finally did it, it sure took them long enough.