Ann Arbor City Council approved $416,829, including contingency funding, to launch a visioning process for the 107-year-old Farmers Market.

Council voted Monday, Oct. 5, to hire Market Ventures Inc. for a visioning and public engagement effort at the Kerrytown market, as reported by MLive. The deal includes roughly $379,000 for consulting and nearly $38,000 in contingency funds. The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would contribute $248,000 toward the cost, subject to its board’s approval, according to the council resolution.

Parks manager Josh Landefeld told council, "This is the time to reimagine."

The push comes after the city demolished the market's 1984 brick office and restroom building in July 2025. A forensic investigation had found significant foundation failure, making the structure unsafe. According to the city's engagement page for the project, the demolition was not originally planned but was initiated due to urgent site conditions before the visioning process began.

The scope of work includes a market operations study, community engagement, conceptual and schematic design, phasing strategies and funding exploration.

The DDA's new development and tax-capture plan for 2026–2055 lists a possible $21 million Farmers Market reconstruction, according to MLive's reporting.

This is not the city's first attempt. About a decade ago, council voted 8-3 in 2016 to approve a four-season market building. That $1.5 million project fell apart when costs exceeded expectations and a $137,667 funding gap could not be closed.

Council Member Erica Briggs, D-5th Ward, raised that history at the Oct. 5 meeting. She asked whether the city could draw on the earlier engagement process rather than starting over, noting the parks department is short on resources. Briggs also questioned how to rebuild trust with vendors who participated a decade ago.

Landefeld acknowledged the challenge. He told council the situation had shifted from addressing wants to addressing needs, and that he would rather spend the money to develop a solid plan.

New condos and apartments have risen around the market in recent years, Landefeld told council. The producer-only market at 315 Detroit St. features about 130 Michigan vendors. Its roof structure, built as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, dates to 1941.

City staff anticipate the visioning process will begin in January 2027, with a final report expected by December 2027, according to the council memorandum. Residents can sign up for project updates at engage.a2gov.org/farmers-market-visioning. Updates will also go to the Parks Advisory Commission and the Public Market Advisory Commission.