Quarters will be a bit cramped Sunday at the Schenectady Greenmarket as it moves outdoors for the season to the area around City Hall.
Part of Jay Street, opposite City Hall, is barricaded due to ongoing work associated with the March 6 apartment fire. The barricade stretches from the wall of 108 Jay St. that borders the demolition site to the intersection of Jay and Liberty streets. It juts out nearly to the end of the diagonal, on-street parking spots, where farmers market vendors typically set up their booths.
“It can’t be used for vendors, and it won’t be accessible for anything until we get it fixed,” said Bill Winkler, acting commissioner of general services for the city.
At a glance
• The Schenectady Greenmarket will move outdoors to the area around City Hall beginning Sunday. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in that location every Sunday through the end of October.
• For more information, visit www.schenectadygreenmarket.org.
The barricade won’t be coming down any time soon, he noted.
City crews can’t complete their work on the street until National Grid repairs an electrical vault and duct line damaged when the ruined apartment buildings were demolished. The utility company has been surveying the area over the past week or two and is going through engineering studies, said National Grid spokesman Patrick Stella.
“We’re trying to figure out how to make these repairs without having a power outage to City Hall,” he said.
Once work begins, it should take about three weeks, weather depending, Stella estimated. When that work is complete, city crews will be able to finish replacing the damaged curb and sidewalk and repave a section of Jay Street.
Greenmarket vendors can still set up booths on the side of Jay Street closest to City Hall and on the opposite side of the street where there is no barricade, Winkler said.
The barricade, which stretches the length of about 12 parking spots, will only displace four or five of the vendors, said market manager Jennifer Jennings.
Temporary spots for the affected vendors will be found in other parts of the market, she said.
On an average Sunday, about 65 vendors participate in the outdoor market, Jennings estimated.
This year, eight new vendors will be featured, including Mrs. London’s of Saratoga Springs, which will sell sandwiches and quiche; Nine Pin Ciderworks of Chatham, which makes hard cider; and Healthy Gourmet Kitchen of Glenville, which makes sugar-free salsas, snacks, sauces and jams.
In addition to vendors of local produce, prepared foods and artisan goods, the market offers live music, cooking and gardening demonstrations and children’s activities.
The band Running the River will provide entertainment Sunday, and the Scotia-Glenville Lions Club will hand out free tree saplings.
There will also be insider market tours for those who would like to learn more about the market and its vendors.
Those wishing to participate should meet at noon at the market tent at the corner of Jay and Franklin streets.
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