Vandalism will not delay demolition
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on May 18, 2005 1:45 PM
Thieves took advantage of the planned demolition of the Downtown Farmers Market this week to steal two refrigerators used by a vendor.
Daisy Coley said someone broke into her booth and stole the coolers Monday night.
An official with the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., which oversees the market, said it was the first time that any of the equipment or stores there had been robbed.
"This is really sad," said Sherry Archibald, the promotions director for the DGDC. "It's the first time in the more than 20 years the market's been open that something was stolen."
The market, which building inspectors say is in poor condition, was scheduled for demolition Monday and locks on the booths were removed by city officials. But they were replaced the same day when city crews learned the demolition would not take place until the end of the week.
The City Council decided Monday night to permit the market to operate on a six-day-a-week schedule, as it has in the past. Earlier, the council had considered reducing the market to a two-day-a-week business but at least one vendor said that would not be practical.
The Rev. Sara Morgan asked the council if it would give her the produce bins that she has used for several years, she would move to a nearby property and set up shop there. She had already arranged for a Wayne County farmer to plant dozens of rows of peas, squash and other summer vegetables, she said.
"I couldn't sell all of that in two days," she said. "If I knew we weren't going to have a proper market, I wouldn't have wasted my money."
The councilmen relented and said that they would allow the market to stay open Monday through Saturday. They had considered moving the market to a spot across from City Hall but decided against that location and instead chose to allow vendors to sell from the parking lot of the existing market. Vendors will be permitted to set up tents or sell produce out of the back of trucks in the parking lot of the old market.
The market is expected to open for business on Friday.