The curtain will come up on the three proposals to redevelop 415 W Washington just outside of downtown Ann Arbor next week.

City officials will interview the three development teams about their proposals on Aug. 13, from 5-9 p.m. in the board room of the County Administration Building, 220 N. Main St. in downtown. The three teams presenting plans include Ann Arbor Art Center, Chicago-based developer Morningside Group (the Liberty Lofts people) and the Old West Square LLC (a partnership that includes Peter Allen of Kingsley Lane and Lower Town fame).

The city put out a request for proposals for the nearly 2.5-acre site earlier this year. Picking a developer could happen later this year.

The former maintenance yard for the city and county DPW services is a few blocks northwest of downtown between Huron and Liberty streets, adjacent to the railroad tracks and across the street from the new YMCA. City officials have determined that it is no longer needed for municipal operations.

The city requested redevelopment proposals that respect the surrounding residential neighborhood, utilize green building practices, mitigate floodplain issues and preserve the historical two-story industrial building built in 1907.

Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke