Council puts demolition of Cottonwood market structures on hold
By Timothy Schafer
The axe was spared on the city’s Saturday market structures as a shroud of uncertainty was dispelled Monday night when city council fielded, then yielded to, questions and concerns during its public session.
Two people came forward during city council’s committee of the whole public session, while up to one dozen people listened in support of queries to council on the fate of the market structures — and the Saturday market itself — located in Cottonwood Falls Park.
The concern over Cottonwood Market comes on the heels of a Letter to the Editor by David Reid, Executive Director of the West Kootenay EcoSociety.
Former Cottonwood market manager and member of the West Kootenay EcoSociety, John Alton, appeared on his own behalf and those he had spoken to in the street over the rising issue of the structure’s demolition.
He said there was a certain amount of cultural connection to the buildings after 10 years of hosting summer markets, and a city decision to sever that link came as a surprise.
Alton pointed to a perceived lack of public process and consultation with the community on the market structure’s fate as the source of that alarm.
“It felt like a bit of fragmentation around the community because there was no inclusion (in the decision to demolish),” he said, but people still wanted to be included in the plan.
He acknowledged there were growing problems inherent in the park and the market buildings with increased activity of the “transient” community, but a public process on the fate of the market structures “could be a great time for the community to gather and address the problem.”
Alton said the many questions surrounding the market — when the market would have a new shelter, what the project cost would be, when would it happen, what would the design be and where would the money come from — would be left unanswered if council delved into its planned demolition of the structures. Time was needed to answer them, he said.
“So my question is, why not wait? What is the rush to get the buildings down?” Alton said. “If you wait, then we could come up with a plan and the funding and we could make something great down there.”
Council, city staff, the West Kootenay EcoSociety — which has operated the Saturday market since its inception — and the Saturday market coordinator have been in conversation for years over a renovation and redesign for the market site, said Mayor Deb Kozak after the meeting.
She iterated that the issue was not if the market will continue in Cottonwood Falls Park, since it was clear the community desired it to remain, but creating a good healthy space for that to occur.
“I don’t think that council or staff or, quite frankly, the EcoSociety realized that people would be as attached to (the structures) as they are,” she said, noting that public concern has halted the decision to demolish, and the feedback is “under consideration.
“We will take a second look. I think that’s fine.”
But there will be change down there at some point, said Kozak. A request for proposals has gone out for Railtown area development, and Cottonwood and the market it contains would fold into that vision.
Six years ago Nelson architect Thomas Loh presented a commissioned vision to the city on a redesign for the market, and elements of that will be drawn upon for the new market vision.
“We are thinking about opening up the park to the rest of the public, making sure it is a good place to be,” she said.
Cottonwood Falls Park is not public as it is, and it is “less safe” for families, said Kozak.
“There has been activity in that park that make it difficult for families to go down there,” she admitted. “I’ve heard that some folks … they don’t feel comfortable there (at non-market times) and we need to address that, and in a healthy way.”
The city’s hand was not forced by “criminal activity” in the initial decision to demolish the structures, said Kozak.
“In conversations it was decided that, at some point, these structures have to come down,” she said. “We decided that this year would be a good year.”
Final decision has not been given on if the structures will come down before winter hits.
The tale of transients in Cottonwood Park
One man spoke at the outset of the meeting on the premise that the market location remain as impromptu housing for the transient community.
After market season has ended, he asked the city to allow transients to shelter there — with some support from mental health and social workers — with lighting and food, port-a-potty and waste disposal support.
“Instead of getting grief, give opportunity through responsibility,” he said as he read from a prepared statement.
He said the city should just fix the roof and prolong the life of the current market structure.
He also suggested a regular police presence in the area.
Story originated in The Nelson Daily.
