City may fix Erie Street Market

Published: Wednesday, 6/25/2014

BY MARK REITER BLADE STAFF WRITER

With a deal in the works for one business to go into the Erie Street Market and a national grocery considering opening a store there, Toledo City Council is being asked to spend up to $150,000 to fix the buildings leaky roof and repair the geo-thermal heating and cooling system.

A proposal to take money out of the budget for capital improvement projects to make roof repairs and replace pumps and equipment in the heating and cooling system was discussed Tuesday at councils agenda-review meeting.

Bill Burkett, commissioner of economic development, told council members that consultants who have inspected the city-owned building estimate the roof repairs could cost as much as $70,000 and work to replace pumps used in the geo-thermal system will be at least $32,000.

Two of the four pumps that move ground water into the system must be replaced, he said.

Also, eight of the 10 handling units that circulate heated and cooled air throughout the building, including the Libbey Glass Factory Outlet store, must be replaced, and the cost for that work will be about $60,00, Mr. Burkett said.

After contractors inspect the roof and mechanical system, the city would issue a request for proposals for the work and advertise for bids.

Legislation that would allow Mayor D. Michael Collins to enter into a lease agreement with a produce grower to operate a controlled-environment greenhouse in two of three empty bays at the Erie Street Market also was forwarded to the agenda for the July 1 council meeting.

Jim Bloom, who owns Sustainable Local Foods and operates a greenhouse on Hill Avenue, uses LED lighting to induce photosynthesis to grow lettuce and vegetables year round without natural sunlight. The plants are grown in white trays that receive a constant stream of water and nutrients.

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City may fix Erie Street Market