Funding challenges slow vendor relocation, upgrades at Merriman Mall

Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore on Tuesday said the resources needed to advance the relocation of vendors from Robb Street and nearby areas to Merriman’s Mall are not yet available, delaying the project.

Speaking during the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s statutory meeting, Mentore said several issues have slowed progress.

“We have the overall plans as it speaks to the entire area. Some drawings were put together and were supposed to come back to us. I’m not getting the actual movement,” he said.

Based on previous meetings, the Council intended to develop a shed and supporting stalls for the vendors plying their trade in the area. The idea is to provide additional space for more vendors to operate. Those who were removed from operating near Yhip’s Bakery in the vicinity of Bourda Market, and others vending along the streets, will also be placed there.

However, Mentore said the design has not yet been finalised and suggested that kiosks would be a better option than traditional stalls or tables.

“We said we would put aside some money to deal with it, but obviously we are dealing with many other matters that we have to allocate and spend money. We have to even address our administrative building. We will be getting money in place based on some other decisions we took as well,” he said.

Under the current proposal, the structure would measure 36 feet long and 12 feet wide and would be located between Orange Walk and Cummings streets.

“We will have kiosks, then in the middle we will have people from Robb Street, and then we have the people who are already there under the shed, and then we will have another area for the persons from Yhip’s,” he said.

He added that the Clerk of Markets will be tasked with compiling a comprehensive list of vendors from the affected areas to determine the total number of people to be accommodated under the relocation plan.

Council members also sought an update on a previously proposed drive-through facility for the area. Mentore said that the proposal remains under consideration.