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Vendors, market organizers say proposed Freight House fee hike would price out small sellers
Summary
Several market organizers and vendors told the council that proposed increases to Freight House rental fees would make the market unaffordable for many small, often home-based vendors and asked the city to adopt reduced rates or exemptions for community markets.
Vendors and nonprofit organizers told the Ypsilanti City Council that proposed fee increases for the Freight House and related market spaces would make long-running community markets unaffordable and could push vendors and events out of the city. Multiple speakers said the markets support new entrepreneurs, refugee families and small cultural organizations and asked council to consider a reduced-fee tier or explicit nonprofit/community rate.
Angela Scott, who organizes a local market, described a five-year effort supporting local crafters and said, “We charge $26 for a table. Most markets charge upwards of 1000 dollars for a table. We would never be able to cover the cost… if those fees go up to what is proposed.” Denise Lopez, a longtime vendor, and representatives from Jewish Family Services emphasized the markets’ role in providing affordable commercial entry points for small businesses and refugee families.
Council members asked staff to work on administrable concessions and verification for nonprofit or community-focused events, and directed the city manager to return with fee options and a way to verify applicant claims (for example, confirming vendor fee structures) that would allow targeted discounts. Staff said they would prepare recommended changes to the fee schedule and to the special-events policy for a future meeting so markets could plan upcoming seasons.
