A new future is on its way for Fayetteville s long-contested Market House.
Fayetteville City Council voted 9-1 on Thursday to repurpose the building. The city plans to use Department of Justice guidance to make sure the project serves as many community members as possible.
Voting in opposition was Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, who wanted more citizen input and called for a federal investigation into not including that feedback.
Over the course of discussion that lasted nearly 90 minutes, the council was presented with options on relocating the Market, as well as five options for repurposing the building.
The building is a national landmark but has come under fire for its history as a site for selling enslaved people. Its future has been a topic of discussion since last summer s protests following Fayetteville native George Floyd s death in police custody.