Duluth Farmer's Market Faces More Parking Roadblocks

DULUTH - A parking issue is causing many farmers around town to be frustrated with the city.

"Parking is a really bad situation here. We don't wanna move, we wanna stay here; the neighborhood loves us, we love being here," said Lois Hoffbauer, a vendor at the Duluth Farmer's Market.

The Duluth Farmer's Market took a step forward with the city regarding the major parking issue at their site, but that doesn't mean they're happy.

The farmers were hoping to create 18 parking spots behind the building, but the city shot down their proposal because of a conflict with the location of an easement.

So, the farmers made a compromise to put spots ten feet from the property line and only make a retaining wall three feet high.

"Other cities in the state of Minnesota, I know, are going way out of their way to help the farmer's markets provide a local, fresh product. We're not asking for any money from the City of Duluth, we're just asking for 18 parking spots, or help to get it in," said Hoffbauer.

The city said they could put in the ten spots, but first they need to hire an architectural firm to provide drawings and that they'll also need to put specs on the blocks, which the market can't afford.

"The city said that they can't set a precedent by providing us with an architechural drawing, even though they technically own the land. They won't do it for us," said Hoffbauer.

The spots won't be available until fall, because it is a volunteer-based organization and July is the busiest time of their year.

The market is currently setting up a kickstarter campaign and we'll put the link on our website as soon as it's running.