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Plans for Pier 40 Farmers Market Sinking Quickly

By DNAinfo Staff on June 22, 2010 7:14am  | Updated on June 22, 2010 8:21am

West Village residents may not get a farmers' market at Pier 40 after all.
West Village residents may not get a farmers' market at Pier 40 after all.
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flickr/marcusjroberts

By Nicole Breskin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

WEST VILLAGE — Plans to build a green market on the water at Pier 40 in the latest effort to turn the area into a major Manhattan attraction seem to be shriveling up.

Months after the idea was first floated for the 15-acre pier, where West Houston Street meets the Hudson River, the farmers market has not come to fruition because a partner to run the market has yet to be found.

 “I thought we had it,” said George Capsis, publisher of the community-based opinion publication WestView who championed of the idea following a neighborhood survey. “We have struck out now three times.”

The most promising potential partnership seemed to be with Harvest Homes Farmer’s Markets, whose founder, Maritza Owens, turned out to a community board meeting to support the plan.

Pier 40 on the Hudson River.
Pier 40 on the Hudson River.
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Photo: Courtesy of the Hudson River Park Trust

But a spokeswoman from the group confirmed that Harvest Homes will not be partnering in a market, at least for this year, but wouldn’t elaborate on reasons. Capsis suspects the economy is at fault.

A larger issue at play is long-term funding for Pier 40, with the pier’s roof alone will cost $20 million to repair, and at least an additional $35 million is required to fix old support pilings, according to the Hudson River Park Trust, which manages the 5-mile-long West Side park and piers

Several controversial development plans for the pier, one of the largest on Manhattan's waterfront, have been floated in the past.

A proposal submitted by developer the Related Companies, which included establishing an entertainment complex for the performance group Cirque de Soleil at the site, was rejected by the community in 2008.

Other bids involving a private developer have subsequently fallen through.