HARRISBURG, Pa. — It's a day that's been months in the making, as the Broad Street Market's temporary tent opened to the public on Thursday.
“Without our local support this never would have happened," said Venus Hawbaker, vice chair of the Broad Street Market Alliance's Board of Directors.
Across the street, the future of the market's charred brick building remains in limbo.
It was destroyed in a fire in July of last year.
The City of Harrisburg has vowed to rebuild, but doing so is proving challenging.
“If we don’t get things started, the deterioration from the sun, the rain, the snow last year, and here we go again with the weather this summer," said the city's mayor, Wanda Williams, as she stopped by the temporary tent on Thursday. "So I’m just concerned about what it’s going to do.”
A construction manager handpicked by the Mayor’s administration for the project was shot down by city council earlier this month.
The council cited equity issues in justifying its 5-2 vote to justify its rejection of Alexander Building Construction. Members also felt there was a lack of "diversity and perspective" on the selection team.
Mayor Williams called the decision "careless" and “reckless.”
“It’s not about being diversified, it’s about doing the right thing, making sure you’re reading the right information and some of them aren’t informed enough," Mayor Williams told FOX43. "If they weren’t informed enough they could have come to me and talked to me about any questions they had.”
State lawmakers are also voicing concerns.
State Representatives Dave Madsen (D-Dauphin) and Patty Kim (D-Dauphin and Cumberland), wrote a letter to city council, saying its decision could cost the market state funding.
“When I was on Harrisburg City Council, I didn't know the ins and outs of all the state budget processes, so [we] just wanted to make them aware there’s a tight window here as far as state resources and we’ll hopefully get a decision soon," said Rep. Madsen.
The Democratic legislators are working through negotiations to get money for the rebuild included in the state budget, which is expected to pass next month.
“It doesn’t feel like Harrisburg until you have a Saturday where you’re in the market, shuffling around, buying your goods, talking with friends, having lunch so we want to bring that back as soon as possible," said Rep. Madsen.
Because the city must go back to the drawing board to find a construction manager, any potential funding could be delayed to the next budget cycle.
“We’re always going to try to help no matter what, but it does make things a little bit more complicated," said Rep. Madsen.
“Right now we’re having productive meetings so we’re going to try to work something out and if not, if council sees fit they want to vote it down, they have to answer to the residents," added Mayor Williams.
The mayor's office says the council's decision could set the rebuild back four to six months.
FOX43 reached out to all seven Harrisburg City Council members for this story, but none responded to our request for comment, as of Thursday afternoon.
A possible reconsideration of the council's rejection vote could come up at its May 28 meeting.
The property where the temporary tent is located is owned by Josh Kesler, who owns The Millworks restaurant next door. He is currently letting the city use the space, free of charge, to operate the tent.
According to the city's director of communications, Matt Maisel, the city will have to start paying to rent the temporary tent space on January 1, 2026. At that time, it would cost $5,000 a month.
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