ESCANABA – The Escanaba Downtown Development Authority has approved plans for a new city Marketplace facility to replace the current farmer’s market. DDA director Ed Legault and President Sue Parker say it will be muti-use facility that has a classic design.

The architect drawings show curved lattice and a large clock tower and windowed cupolas for light.

“It’s a pavilion style structure with part of it closed off at the north,” Legault said. “That will help protect it from the weather.”

The north end will allow the facility to have more year-round uses.

“There will be a small kitchen there so if you wanted to do a catered party or something you will have a small kitchen to work with. There’s also public bathrooms and storage for tables and chairs and such,” said Parker.

The project will cost $532,000. Legault said they will be looking for grant money to help fund it.

“Ideally, we would like to look at a grant that would probably be a match situation where it would be 75/25. We would then try to make up the rest either through private contributions or the DDA would look to do something like that,” Legault said.

Parker said it will be a project that will benefit the city.

“I think it says that we’re open to new events. With the summer event schedule that’s planned with the city I think this is something we can tie in with. It will uplift the city and say, hey, there’s something going on down here, come and check it out,” she said.

The plans will be presented to the Escanaba Planning Commission in April. Both Parker and Legault say the project could start later this year.