Ann Arbor Public Market advisory panel hears staffing, vendor application surge and demolition timetable

The Ann Arbor Public Market Advisory Commission on Thursday, March 20, 2025, received updates on staffing and vendor applications, was told that demolition of the old market office building is expected in April, and learned the market won a food-safety grant to fund a monthly cooking-demo series.

The updates matter to market vendors and customers because they will shape space availability, parking and staging during demolition and nearby construction, and programming this season, commissioners and staff said.

Staffing and vendor applications

Market staff introduced Leila, the new assistant market manager outreach coordinator, who said she has been working the last couple of weeks at the market and returned to Ann Arbor after managing an incubator farm elsewhere. Leila said, “I’m really happy to join you all. I grew up here in Ann Arbor.”

Stephanie, the market staff member overseeing applications, told commissioners the market has seen a large influx of applications since switching to an online form: “I wanna say, like, 55 applicants who are new, since the beginning of the year,” she said. She said that technical problems — a printer outage and account/access issues for the new staff member — delayed processing and that staff prioritized returning vendors first. Stephanie estimated confirmations and paperwork follow-up could take “two to four weeks” now that staffing gaps are being addressed.

On space, Stephanie described the calculation as more complicated than counting assigned stalls because not all vendors have permanent assignments; she said there are roughly 24 stalls and that staff expect room for “at least 10 new vendors, if not 15,” with farms given priority and selections guided by product gaps and business narratives.

Facilities and demolition

Staff reported extended electrical work that disrupted internet and scanning capacity and said demolition of the old market office building is slated to begin in April, with an initial contractor estimate of 10 days to two weeks for the demolition phase. Stephanie said electricians encountered unexpected elements that caused delays but that the contractor expects to finish before May market hours start.

She told commissioners the electrical work required shifting some infrastructure and that the relocation slightly encroached on nearby shelter stalls; to compensate, staff “decided that we are going to reduce their vendor payment rate” for affected vendors. Stephanie also said vendor-assigned parking between Fourth Street and the market office will be closed for the duration of demolition and that spaces will be reissued once work finishes.

Construction near the market and staging impacts

Commissioners were warned that several private development projects near the market appear to be proceeding and may overlap with each other and the demolition, which could force closure of parts of the market for construction staging. Stephanie identified projects by the names used in staff notes — “Broadcourt,” “303 Detroit” and “121 Catherine (now known as the Dunbar Tower)” — and said the developer for 303 Detroit was listed in project documents. She urged vendors and customers to monitor Planning Commission agendas and attend to register concerns about staging and timing.

Grant for cooking demonstrations and events

Stephanie announced the market received a food-safety grant from the Michigan Farmers Market Association to fund a cooking-demo series scheduled for the second Wednesday market each month; this year’s series will emphasize canning and food-preservation techniques. She said the market will meet with the grantor next week to finalize details.

Vendor handbook revisioning and meetings

Commissioner Emma and Carlene reported they are convening a small working group to reconcile past notes with the current vendor handbook and plan outreach to vendor subgroups before wider meetings. Commissioners agreed to hold their next in-person PMAC meeting in May so departing member Peter can attend; the May PMAC meeting date on the calendar is May 15.

Public comment and next steps

Vendor Debbie Marks, who identified herself as a market vendor for 34 years, urged the commission to reassure the public about continuity during demolition: “Once they see the demolition, I think it’s gonna take their breath away. So we need to reassure them that the market isn’t going anywhere,” she said.

Resident Colin Whitaker told commissioners he checked Legistar and reported the Planning Commission meets in person biweekly on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., information commissioners said they found useful for tracking nearby development agendas.

Votes at this meeting

The commission approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the February meeting. The agenda was approved on a motion moved by Commissioner Jeff and seconded by Commissioner Jeb; the minutes were approved on a motion that received a second from Commissioner Jeff.

The commission closed the meeting after the second public-comment period; the next scheduled PMAC meeting is May 15, 2025, which commissioners discussed hosting in person and inviting city staff to discuss the community-engagement scope for market re-envisioning.