Farmers' market move OK'd by city

The City of Calgary has given the go-ahead for the Calgary Farmers' Market to move to a new location in the southeast.

The market's general manager said Thursday the development permit approval means they can break ground and start building at the new location, Blackfoot Centre, located at Fifth Street and 77th Avenue S.E.

The market was forced to look for a new home because the lease at its currentlocation Currie Barracks in the southwest expires in November 2010.

In Januaryit was announced thatthe new location will have an additional 10,000-square-feet, but the same number of vendors roughly 100. It is slated to be ready for vendors to move in by the time the old market closes.

The redevelopment of the 55,000-square-foot Blackfoot Centre site was set to cost $5 million. It currently houses the Heritage Flea Market and a shooting range.

The Calgary Farmers' Market will be the third of its kind in the area, along with the summertime Blackfootand Crossroads Markets.

There could be even more competition this summer if a number of breakaway vendors getapproval to open another new market, called the Kingsland Farmers' Market, in an old car dealership at 77 Avenue and Macleod Trail S.W.