by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Plans for a weekend arts and farmer’s market near Riverside’s Five Points shopping district remain on the back
burner despite years of planning and advocacy. Project organizers say that until the remains of the old Fuller Warren Bridge are gone, those plans will stay right where they are.
City Council members Michael Corrigan and Reggie
Fullwood have supported the proposed market since it was
little more than an idea nearly a decade ago. Since that time, various City departments as well as Riverside property owners including Fidelity National Financial, Inc. have been more than agreeable about a market being staged on the weekend.
But Corrigan said this week that until The Florida Department of Transportation removes the last of the northbank bridge pilings next to the new Fuller Warren Bridge, market progress including design work and infrastructure site improvements cannot be made
“We’re basically at a standstill because we can’t finish the portion of the riverwalk through there that would serve as an anchor to the market or make a few other improvements,” Corrigan said. “Those old pillars have to be removed first.”
At this rate, Corrigan said the market won’t debut for at least another year, about a year behind schedule.
The FDOT has wanted to demolish the bridge for years, but after resistance was met from local advocates and environmental groups, the plan was temporarily scuttled.
A study to determine if the bridge remains could be converted into a pedestrian pier and promenade was later commissioned, though ultimately the City stood its ground on wanting to get rid of it.
FDOT spokesperson Mike Goldman said it will eventually come down, but not until permits and plans are approved by the Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Johns River Water Management.
The latter will review those plans, which call for a combination of chipping, implosion and hauling away large chunks of the old bridge, at Tuesday’s governing board meeting.
“And as soon as we get an idea of when the DOT is going to take down the old bridge, we can at least work on the design elements for the market at the same time,” Corrigan said. “I can say that the recent widening of Riverside Avenue has had zero effect on plans for the market. In fact, it works in our favor.”
Proposed by Riverside Avondale Preservation member Wayne Wood and based on a similar concept already in place in Portland, Ore., Corrigan said the local market would likely function as an unofficial Fidelity tenant on weekends.
Corrigan has been advocating the idea since he was president of Riverside Avondale Preservation, Inc. from 1996-98.
“It’s all still very tentative, but the way we see it right now, the lot and the parking garage would function like any other parking facilities do during the week,” he said. “But on a Friday afternoon, market organizers could come in and set up banners and booths so it could be open Saturday through Sunday.”
Corrigan said there is currently no franchise agreement in place for a market management group, but added the surface lot would likely be wired for electricity and that the garage would satisfy all parking concerns.
If it follows the standard set by the Portland market, Corrigan said the local initiative would incorporate a variety of elements including produce, baked goods, crafts and the work of local artists.
“We’re very excited about the possibilities,” he said. “[Fullwood] and I are working together on this and we think it’s a great idea. If everything goes according to plan, it will be like having a festival every weekend in the local community.”