UPTOWN — An indoor farmers market could be coming to the Gerber building — but not for at least two years.
That's because the building is tied to the Wilson Red Line renovation project, and CTA officials said the commercial development portion of the $203 million overhaul will be completed last, according to Tressa Feher, Ald. James Cappleman's (46th) chief of staff.
Bidding for the project won't even begin until 2017, which is when the renovation should be completed.
"They haven't even opened these up for an RFP process for developers," Feher said in an email referring to proposals developers must submit to be considered.
Despite the wait, Feher is confident the market will eventually come to Uptown. She said the alderman wanted the bring the market to neighborhood before he was able to secure the funding for the renovation.
Since then, she said he's been talking with developers and potential businesses and leading them on tours of the Gerber building in preparation for 2017.
One market operator the alderman has met with: Pascal Bensidoun, vice president of Chicago's French Market.
"This has been a plan that's been in the works just as I entered office," Cappleman said at Buena Park Neighbors meeting this week.
"It's the most diverse ward, and we want to highlight that with food, especially fresh food," he said, adding that the market would complement the entertainment district.
He envisions vendors selling fresh vegetables and fruits as well as fish, meat and pastries.
It won't be the first of its kind in the neighborhood, as Weiss Hospital hosts an indoor farmers market. However, Feher said the Gerber building's market would likely become the largest indoor market in Uptown.
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