Market House is a saga that has no end

Published 05/12/08

Will we ever hear the end of the Market House saga? Mayor Ellen Moyer surely won't. Her administration's mishandling of its operations will dog the mayor long after she leaves office.

The recent exodus of one of the vendors opens yet another chapter. Chip Miller had leased nearly half of the market for four shops and was hoping to open more, but in the middle of the night he moved everything out to avoid eviction. He says he was losing money.

The empty stalls come at a time when property manager Site Realty and the city are at a standoff. Site Realty is suing the city for $6 million because it hasn't provided an adequate heating and cooling system. Until the lawsuit is resolved, the city has postponed installation of the system - and now a judge has ruled it can't collect rent from Site Realty until the installation is completed. Can it get any uglier?

The mayor now says she never liked Site Realty and criticizes it for not bringing any vision or marketing to the facility. Yet, along with lame duck aldermen, she voted for this contract at the last meeting of the previous council. We know Site Realty was a distant second to Dean & DeLuca, an upscale tenant who backed out of negotiations, but why was the city that desperate to sign a contract if it didn't like Site Realty to begin with? There was not even any debate on the council floor when the aldermen and mayor unanimously approved the contract, then celebrated. After two years of political infighting, the council and mayor were so eager to get the project started that they may have been hasty in selecting the right property manager.

We're not convinced Site Realty is the best choice either, but it has a 20-year contract. Either the city needs to buy out the contract and move in another direction, or get Site Realty's tenants the proper air conditioning they need to succeed. Since that installation won't start until next winter, a makeshift system will continue to remind us of just how ugly this saga has been.

It will take Site Realty awhile to find vendors to fill the huge space left by Mr. Miller. We hope it searches for a vendor who will sell actual produce rather than more prepared food. It's what downtown residents once had and what they still want.

We remain convinced that the city should sell the Market House and get out of the business of leasing commercial property. It is a business they are just not competent to conduct - no matter who is mayor or aldermen. With a sale, the city can attach covenants to the use of the facility, but not have the liability of operating it.

Since that's not likely to happen, taxpayers are assured that this saga has no end.

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Market House - May 15, 2008

Tear down the Market House and put in section 8 housing or maybe even a putt putt golf course. How can you sign a lease for 20 yrs with a company you really don't like? Just when you think Moyer can't screw up Annapolis anymore she tops herself again and again! Moyer must GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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HH H - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad

market house - May 13, 2008

As i still see Annapolis has not changed . Its sad to see this becouse it can be a nice place to be . I left Annapolis 28 years ago . I have been back 3 time in the past 10 years , and seen the city go down hill .Iwould love to see the old market house back , like it was in the late 70`s. J.F.Cannon Morrisville,North Carolina nctowman60@bellsouth.net

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JAMES CANNON - Morrisville, NC - Karma: Bad

Painful Ordeal - May 12, 2008

Maybe the author of this column is right... Maybe the only way residents will get what they want is to sell this thing and attach a list of requirements for its use. I for one would like a butcher, a seafood market, a bakery, a dairy shop, a produce stand, and a florist. If there is room after those spots are covered, then they can sell a little prepared food too but lets figure out someway to turn it back into a real MARKET and kill the whole food court concept.

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Bruce Kibbey - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad