Dear Friends:

On December 18, we closed the 2011 season with our 50th event at the old Fulton Fish Market. Wintermarket IV was a great gathering of more than 70 local small businesses, many of which achieved their first success right here in our stalls. And for the first time, the market featured nearly a dozen regional fisheries —an echo of the days when maritime commerce shaped the East River Market District, and an exciting portent of things to come.

It was only four years ago, in December 2007, when we held our very first seasonal market in this neighborhood. Then as now, the vibrant legacy of the old Fulton Fish Market inspired us to ask ourselves this question: Can South Street and its iconic riverfront market-houses once again be home to a full-time, year-round wholesale and retail emporium — a gathering place for the public, along with cooks, chefs, shopkeepers, distributors, growers, and other participants in an evolving local food system?

The answer, most emphatically, is yes. And you can help make this vision a reality.

In September 2011, New Amsterdam Market was awarded a $250,000 Community and Cultural Enhancement Program grant by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In choosing us as recipients of this coveted award, the LMDC specified that these funds be used to attract new customers and vendors over the next two years. Inspired by this very tangible vote of confidence from the LMDC and the elected officials of Lower Manhattan, we are inviting you to join them in supporting our mission: to lead the redevelopment of the East River Market District by reviving its 400-year-old tradition of public markets.

We propose to house this enterprise in the Tin Building and New Market Building, returning these historic structures to their original role as the hub of a Market District that serves the local community and funtions as an economic engine for the entire region. Such adaptive reuse of public property is not only the most appropriate but also the most exciting future for the Fulton Fish Market. As well proven by the High Line project, reclaiming old infrastructure for contemporary needs creates new and compelling forms of public space while generating significant economic development.

Over the last four years, New Amsterdam Market has hosted more than 200 pioneering entrepreneurs who are redefining the way we source, produce, distribute, and sell nourishing, wholesome food. These dynamic businesses — and their growing following— clearly demonstrate that New York City is ready to embrace a substantial, year-round public market where, in the spirit of Les Halles, commerce and culture intertwine.

If you agree that a year-round New Amsterdam Market, housed in the Fulton Fish Market buildings, is the best way to transform this irreplaceable historic district into a thriving center of urban life please make a contribution today. We thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Robert LaValva, President
New Amsterdam Market

 

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