Posted on Thu, Feb. 08, 2007

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Costs go up for new Farmers Market

Agriculture official says plans for new facility might be scaled back

By DAWN HINSHAW

dhinshaw@thestate.com

Construction estimates for the new State Farmers Market have jumped by about $20 million, leading Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers to suggest the long-sought project might be scaled back or built in phases.

The $60 million project, which was to open a year from now on Pineview Road, south of Columbia, is not in jeopardy, Weathers said.

But he doesn’t have a plan for covering the deficit.

“We do see we’re going to have some challenges, but we’ve been working to try to find some answers to them,” said Weathers, who said he has been meeting with key budget leaders on the matter.

Richland County Council — a partner in plans to move the market from the shadow of Williams-Brice Stadium and expand it into a cosmopolitan shopping spot — was briefed on the shortfall Tuesday.

“I’m pulling for him,” chairman Joe McEachern said later, “but we have to be realistic about the obstacle he’s facing.”

The project has a 20-year history, including a bitter tug-of-war between Richland and Lexington counties in 2004 over the location.

Richland County’s successful bid involved an investment of more than $10 million to purchase 194 acres accessible to the I-77 beltway and a 20-year marketing budget.

Now, though, the county has decided to delay construction of storage buildings it also agreed to build for use by produce vendors.

“We are standing by,” said Councilwoman Kit Smith, one of the architects of the county’s involvement.

Weathers wouldn’t disclose the amount of the shortfall, but McEachern said it was approaching $20 million. The state has committed $28 million in construction bonds.

Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland, said the issue came up at a Ways and Means Subcommittee meeting Wednesday, but no figures were presented.

“We didn’t have any details either,” he said.

Committee members are trying to add money to the budget to cover the cost of a new road serving the Farmers Market, connecting Shop Road and Garners Ferry Road or Air Base Road.

Reach Hinshaw at (803) 771-8641.