Farmers Association picks new location for downtown market

The head of the Farmers Market Association said his group has decided on a new temporary location.

Association President Scott Poenitzsch said the group voted Monday night to pick 807 Austin Ave. as a location for the remainder of the season. He said the site will be temporary until a permanent one can be found.

The location is the site of OneLife Community Church and will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Oct. 22.

The market will hold a grand opening and Salsa Day Aug. 20.

The move comes after the 129-member vendors association got into a three-way squabble with the city and Downtown Wichita Falls Development (DWFD), a not-for-profit group, over representation and rental rates.

"It's got great parking, great access and we are so pleased to be where we're going," Poenitzsch said of the new location. He said vendors are excited.

"They looked at the property, they voted on the property and this was the No. 1 choice," he said.

Poenitzsch said the new lease will lower booth fees to the vendors.

Even though a new location has been chosen, Poenitzsch said the door is "wide open" to the City Council to continue a relationship. He said he has sent a letter to the city expressing the association's willingness to talk about staying at the present location in a city-owned building at 713 Ohio Ave.

He said he also sent a letter to DWFD expressing a willingness to talk, "but we are certainly going down this path."

The city leased the property to DWFD which in turn sublet it to the farmers' association. Poenitzsch said the association found new rent terms unacceptable and in the dispute that followed, DWFD terminated its arrangement with the association.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Farmers Association picks new location for downtown market