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Commission directs staff to draft leases for Farmers Market expansion after positive proposal
Summary
After staff summarized Missy Carter’s proposal to add 10–15 indoor vendor booths and a pop-up kitchen, the commission directed staff to draft a 3-year renewal with a third-year escalator for the current space and a 1-year lease (with renewal option) for added space at $20,000.
The Riverfront Improvement Commission heard a proposal Dec. 3 to expand the indoor Farmers Market and directed staff to draft leases for the current and newly proposed space.
Management summarized remarks credited to Missy Carter, executive director of the Farmers Market, saying the market more than doubled its applications this year and that staff recorded about 200,000 unique visitors to the Davenport riverfront from May through September. Staff proposed adding roughly 10–15 vendor booths, using a linked kitchen as a pop-up culinary space, and expanding hours (proposed Wednesday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m., but adjustable). Staff said added space would carry an annual fee near $20,000.
Commissioners debated lease length and terms. The commission agreed staff should draft a 3-year lease for the market’s current space that includes an escalator in year three and a 1-year lease for the added space with a renewal option. Staff will work with finance to set an appropriate escalator amount and return draft leases for commission review in January.
Commissioners discussed the market’s role as a community amenity versus a revenue source, noting that lease income alone is insufficient for major capital improvements. Several members suggested seeking grants or sponsorships to fund larger upgrades and to ensure a small set of anchor events remains high-quality to drive downtown traffic.
Next steps: staff to prepare draft leases and square-footage-based pricing, and to present lease documents for commission consideration at the January meeting.
