Eastern Market outlines expansion, food-access losses; council moves several funding items to executive session

Katie Trudeau, president and chief executive officer of the Eastern Market Corporation, told the Detroit City Council on April 1 that the public market is advancing several capital projects and year‑round food access efforts while facing the loss of a state food‑purchase program that supported local growers.

Trudeau said Eastern Market received a $12,000,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture to acquire and renovate a building at 3445 Russell St. into a Shed 7 wholesale distribution center, with construction anticipated to begin in July and permits under review. “We closed on that acquisition in September,” she said.

The market also described plans for a Shed 4 redevelopment, estimated at $15 million to $16 million and scheduled to begin construction in 2027 if fundraising succeeds. Trudeau said the city previously allocated $1.5 million to Shed 4 and that the organization has raised additional private and philanthropic support; she said the project is roughly 60% complete on design and construction documents.

Why it matters: Council members pressed for details about how city funds are being spent and for quicker movement of a $250,000 city allocation intended to support Black urban farmers. Council members and staff expressed urgency because the market has until June 30 to spend that allocation from the prior fiscal year, and a related state program the market relied on for purchasing produce has lost its planned extension.

Key project and program details

- Shed 7: Funded primarily by a $12,000,000 Michigan Department of Agriculture grant and a roughly $1,000,000 Gilbert Family Foundation grant, the project will include dedicated dock and refrigeration space for small urban growers. Trudeau said Eastern Market will also use new markets tax credits toward renovation and plans to start…