A Maryland developer is abandoning plans for a food court in downtown York.

Instead, he's selling a West Market Street building -- and two others -- at an auction later this month.

Neil A. Katz unveiled plans last year to convert the former Market Street Saloon and nearby properties into a space for new restaurants and vendors.

Developers had promoted the Cherry Lane food court as a way to complement Central Market in the downtown business district.

But Katz said he had a tough time finding a York-based business partner with capital to move the project forward.

"I'm still really gung-ho on York," the Owings Mills-based developer said. "I took on a little bit more right now than I could handle."

Katz said he's opted for an auction sale as a way of unloading the properties quickly -- but not because of any financial complications. Katz has set a minimum price he would accept for each of the three properties.

He's asking at least $195,000 for the former saloon at 29-31 W. Market St. Completed food-court plans would accompany the property as part of the deal.

"It's a good property for somebody. I just can't do it by myself," Katz said.

Other sites: Also for sale are properties at 108-112 E. Market St. and 116-118 E. Market St. Both are vacant buildings that Katz said he'd planned to convert to apartments and some retail space.

Katz said he's advertising for buyers in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region as well as in York.

"The fact is that, you know, I would like to do all these projects, but it gets expensive carrying these properties," he said.

The auction is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 24 at 116-118 E. Market St.

-- Reach Erin James at 505-5439 or ejames@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter @ydcity.