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November 2nd, 2009
To: The Friday Harbor Town Council and the San Juan County Council
From: Elaine Kendall, Co-chair San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild
This letter is in reply to Cathy Cavanaugh’s letter of October 25th. I must preface this reply with the comment that if Cathy had indeed been looking for more information, then I am surprised that she, in light of her relationship to the Ag Guild had not contacted me or any of my fellow Ag Guild Board members or our Project Director. However, I am happy to address Cathy’s questions here:
1. The comparison of the Ace Hardware property with the 150 Nichols Street property is flawed. The Ace Hardware property was sold at auction in a forced sale. This example of a distressed sale does not provide a good comparable.
2. The project architect has estimated the cost of the building remodel (including the second floor office suite) at $162,000. The Ag Guild’s draft capital costs budget includes an additional 15% contingency to bring the total estimated cost to $186,300 for the historic building renovation. Additional site development cost estimates total $172,500. However, these do not include any sweat equity. The Ag Guild will reduce construction and site development costs through work parties on the building remodel as well as the outdoor site work. Ag Guild Board member Mark Madsen, who is Chair of the Fundraising Committee, has offered to talk further with anyone interested in the non-Town and non-Land Bank aspects of the funding for the Market Facility.
3. There are currently no business owners or business employees leasing long-term parking at 150 Nichols Street. All parking is leased by part-time San Juan Island residents. The property is currently off limits to public parking. The development of the market facility at 150 Nichols Street will include approximately 10-12 parking spaces that may be made available for public use on non-market days, which would be a net gain in parking for that area. Is it reasonable that the farmers market should be asked to solve an endemic downtown parking problem when in fact it is meeting the Town of Friday Harbor’s parking requirements? It is true that the issue of the sidewalk on Nichols Street has not yet been addressed. Pedestrian access, however, will be greatly improved via Nichols Street to the North end of the building.
4. We are clearly in a difficult economic downturn; spending in town is down and shops are closing. The fear that there will be competition with local merchants, and that it will be unfair, fails to account for the business, production and land expenses that farmers must deal with. As a San Juan County farmer, I can attest that producing food on this island is very expensive and farmers are not in a position nor do they have the desire to undercut anyone. In the long-term this fear is contrary to the realities of the marketplace. With the current market location at the Courthouse parking lot, downtown merchants are missing the opportunity to have hundreds of people walk by their businesses and the potential for those market customers to become their customers as well. This project would rejuvenate the downtown core, not detract from its economic viability. I have included a section from the 2004 Rapid Market Assessment below (the full report is available in the Feasibility Study Appendix at: http://www.sjiagguild.com/feasibility.php).
5. The survey referred to is the 2008 SJC Food Producers Survey. The first page summarizes the number of respondents from each island. San Juan Island had a total of 13 respondents. The results of this survey indicated interest from farmers on other islands who don’t currently sell at the San Juan Farmers Market, particularly for the mid-week and winter markets. The San Juan Farmers Market Association currently has 44 member/vendors (32 farms, 3 seafood vendors, and 9 food purveyors).
Cathy concludes by advocating for the Fairgrounds as her preferred location for the permanent market facility. A major reason for pursuing a downtown location is that it is the San Juan Farmers Market Association’s preferred location. Based on the experiences of other markets, the downtown location will be the most successful location for vendors. The Fairgrounds’ location outside the downtown core outweighs the advantages of the onsite parking. Furthermore, the Fairgrounds is working towards becoming more of an event facility, and these events may not be compatible with the farmers’ market (i.e. the recent Island Rec K9 Carnival). It is unclear whether or not the fairgrounds will be able to develop any additional structures (impervious surfaces) that might be able to be dedicated for the use of the market on Saturdays and Wednesdays. In addition, the current facility use fees would not likely allow for a sustainable operating budget given the current vendor fee structure. It is more feasible to have a one-time capital facilities fundraising campaign than an annual operating fundraising campaign. A primary goal of the Ag Guild is to secure a year-round facility dedicated for the farmers market on Saturdays and Wednesdays with a sustainable operating budget that maintains current vendor fees.
Cathy advocates for the Fairgrounds location because it will “support a County facility that currently could use the support”. It does not make sense to ask local farmers and artisans to support the Fairgrounds at the risk of a likely loss to their own sales revenue as well as the loss of the potential economic benefits to the existing downtown businesses.
This project’s greatest strength is that the development of the market facility at 150 Nichols Street will address several goals of the Town of Friday Harbor, the San Juan County Land Bank, and the Ag Guild simultaneously in Friday Harbor’s downtown core:
Elaine Kendall
SJI Agricultural Board
San Juan Island Farmer
From the 2004 Rapid Market Assessment
IV. Retailer Comments
Based on the strength of our RMA team, we sent three teams of two people each to conduct short interviews with retailers on Spring and First streets. They asked three questions to initiate short conversations about whether there was retailer support for the farmers’ market.
There was almost universal enthusiasm and support for the market. When asked how they feel about the market, they responded with “great,” “positive,” “nice,” “like,” “enjoy” or “support it.” When asked if the farmers’ market had any impact on their business, most felt it did not, although several saw a positive connection. Very few actually shop the market because of the limited hours. The market needs to demonstrate its strong relationship to the tourist trade to rightfully claim its positive role as one of the enjoyable activities that reinforce the island visitor’s experience.
Asked about improvements that the market might make, businesses felt that a more visible site – like Brown Lumber – would allow tourists to find it more easily and reinforce visitors walking farther up Spring Street, complementing other downtown activities. Some wondered if it would be too far from the ferry, past the walking path that many visitors take. Most felt that being two blocks from the core business district is a liability and that many more people would enjoy it were the market more readily accessible. This then would give local businesses a reason to be more active in their support.
There now exists a missed opportunity for a mutually beneficial linkage between the farmers’ market and the rest of the business community. It should not be overlooked any longer. Knowing that 40% of market customers are island visitors gives strong motivation to cultivating an improved connection between tourism and the market. The downtown business community shows true appreciation for the market, yet is unaware of how many visitors also enjoy it.
If the market moves to a Spring Street site, it should use the change to educate businesses and others to the potential for additional business as the market draws people through town. Market management might get more involved with the chamber of commerce. Conversely, the market needs business help in developing a strong promotional campaign to make that a site change successful.