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Shirt factory owner seeks city help to move historic South Street pavilion; public commenters urge council support
Summary
Owners and volunteers want to dismantle and reassemble the 25‑year‑old South Street Farmers Market pavilion rather than see it demolished; a private owner and supporters asked the council to consider a $10,000 contribution to cover equipment and crew costs, and staff outlined permitting steps and a likely April start for disassembly.
A local business owner and residents urged the Common Council to help finance relocation of the South Street Farmers Market pavilion after the structure’s planned removal from its current lot.
At public comment, Pamela (Pema) Ree described the pavilion as a “historic gem” erected with a New York State grant 25 years ago and said volunteers and private partners were seeking ways to dismantle and preserve it. Eric Umkhoff, owner of the Shirt Factory, told the council he had discussed a plan to disassemble the pavilion into sections, store it, and reassemble it adjacent to the Shirt Factory and mural garden. Umkhoff said Bonaccio (a contractor) quoted approximately $110,000 to disassemble/transport/reassemble the structure and that he had been offered $5,000 from a project director and was requesting $10,000 from the city toward rental equipment and crew costs.
Umkhoff said he has a contract ready with Bonaccio to begin disassembly and that timing depended on securing storage and final approvals. He told the council he expected disassembly to take about a week and hoped to begin in late March or April if financing and scheduling allow.
Council members and staff discussed permitting and zoning steps. Umkhoff said the plan would require an area‑variance request to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and later site‑plan review by the Planning Board; he said he expected to appear before ZBA first and likely not reach the Planning Board until June. City staff confirmed that the owner will need ZBA relief before reassembly and that the pavilion can be stored offsite until approvals are secured.
Council members asked whether the city could approve a funding request quickly; the owner said he would bring a formal item under new business for the next meeting and that the contract paperwork was in hand. Several speakers at public comment and later in the meeting asked the council to use available tourism/Optax or other local funds to cover the $10,000 request. One council member said they would place a $10,000 tourism‑fund request on the next council agenda for consideration.
No formal appropriation or vote on the $10,000 request occurred at the meeting; staff and the owner agreed to pursue the permitting sequence and to return with a formal funding request.
