Eastern Michigan breaks ground on Mark Jefferson Building
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
Before the scientists can do their work the construction crews need to get on their job, which is happening now at Eastern Michigan University's Mark Jefferson Science Complex.
The university broke ground on Tuesday and expects to finish the $90 million renovation and expansion project in 2011. This is the largest single construction project in the history of the EMU. It is expected to meet the university's needs for minting more teachers in science, technology, engineering and math for decades to come.
The overall project includes renovations to the 180,802-square-foot structure and a 151,000-square-foot expansion. It will house space for biology, chemistry, geography and geology, physics and astronomy and psychology courses.
The first phase will create a 72,000-square-foot addition to the existing structure. The second phase will renovate the existing structure and focus on improving mechanical and electrical systems, structural improvements, a new roof and site improvements. EMU is currently looking into ways to make the 1967 building as environmentally friendly as possible.
The building is named for the university's head of the geography department between 1901 and 1939.
Source: Eastern Michigan University
Writer: Jon Zemke
New building construction nearly done at Ann Arbor Airport
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
It's not exactly Aerotropolis development, but the Ann Arbor Airport is indeed expanding.
The small airport on the city's south side is preparing to open a few new buildings in the next few months as part of a $2.5 million improvement project. First up will be the six hangars set to open in January. A new maintenance shed will also open its doors early this spring.
The new hangars will bump up the airport's total to 154. The 63-by-65-foot buildings will offer more hanger space, accommodating either a couple of smaller planes or small, private jets.
"Basically anything with a 60-foot wingspan," says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.
The new 7,700-square-foot maintenance shed will replace the existing 4,000-square-foot structure.
"We really can't even get all of our equipment in there," Kulhanek says. "It's basically an old pall barn that doesn’t even have running water or sewer in it."
He adds this is the first expansion to the airport since the late 1970s or early 1980s. About half of the $2.5 million price tag is being paid for by state and federal grants. The rest comes from bonds the airport took out and will pay off with revenue it generates.
Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor zoning changes promote density, green building
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
The proposed zoning changes for downtown Ann Arbor are in the middle of their own campaign season as sponsors get ready to go before City Council early next year.
The city's Planning Department is holding pubic briefings on the proposed changes this week now that they have been recommended for approval by the city's Planning Commission. Think of the Planning Commission's blessing as winning the primary and the getting City Council approval the general election. It's why city planners are making the rounds with local residents about the proposed changes in both scheduled formal meetings and informal ones.
"If someone wants to meet, I can do that," says Wendy Rampson, a city planner with the city of Ann Arbor.
The proposed changes call for creating more density and a traditional urban environment in the city's core, downtown area. That basically means developers can build structures that are as much as 400 percent bigger than the lot size.
Those numbers can go up if the developer meets certain criteria, such as making the building LEED certified or including affordable housing. For instance, a developer can build 650 percent bigger than the lot size if it’s a platinum LEED building. That number can bump up as high as 900 percent with on-site affordable housing.
The city plans to hold meetings at 9 a.m. today in the City Council chambers of City Hall and again at 6:30 p.m. in the Washtenaw County building, 200 N Main St. Another will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday again in the county building. For information, call (734) 994-2802.
Source: Wendy Rampson, a city planner with the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke
Stockwell renovation turns historic U-M dorm coed
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
The University of Michigan's Stockwell Hall is going to be different in more than one way when its renovation wraps up next fall.
U-M
plans to turn what has been traditionally a women's dorm into a co-ed
facility. The thinking is that demand for all-female housing is
dwindling. There are approximately 800 available spaces in all-women
residences, but only about half that number of female residents
requested such housing.
Making the circa-1940 structure a co-ed
building on the Hill area of the university's campus will allow for
more flexibility in student housing options. There will still be four
other female-oriented dorms on U-M's campus, including Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry residences, Martha Cook Building and Henderson House.
"We
need to rebalance the availability of women's housing to the larger
preference for coeducational living," says Linda Newman, interim
director of U-M's University Housing. "At the same time, we can
increase the availability of single rooms desired by returning students
– women and men."
The university recently began renovating Stockwell as part of its Residential Life Initiatives,
which is revitalizing and expanding student-living options on campus.
The project will preserve the building's Tudor Revival architecture and
interior character, while replacing old mechanical, electrical,
plumbing, safety and elevator systems.
The finished project will feature air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi
access, lounges, kitchenettes and remodeled community bathrooms. What
was once the dining hall area will be turned into a new community
spaces for music practice, recreation and informal performances.
Residents will eat the newly opened Hill Dining Center.
Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ypsilanti works on DDA recycling, approves tax abatement policy
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
Businesses in Depot Town and downtown Ypsilanti produce a lot of recyclable material, however, most of that is thrown away.
Things
could change relatively soon, however. City officials are working on a
pilot recycling program for downtown businesses (Ann Arbor is doing so,
too) that could be introduced as early as December. That program could
include providing 96-gallon rolling garbage cans for paper, plastic and
metal recyclables.
The idea is to reduce the waste stream from
these businesses. Doing that means fewer garbage pickups, which will
"save (Ypsilanti's) Downtown Development Authority money," according to
Ypsilanti DDA Director Brian Vosburg.
The city already has a residential curbside recycling program. However, that isn't big enough for local businesses.
"Most restaurants have volumes of trash that are way bigger than what these tubs can handle," Vosburg says.
Source: Brian Vosburg, director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Arbor Day picks U-M for Tree Campus USA planting kickoff
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2008
It's almost too fitting that the Arbor Day Foundation
picked the University of Michigan's campus --in a city commonly
referred to as Tree Town-- as one of the kick-off points for its Tree Campus USA program.
The
program recognizes college campuses and surrounding communities
committed to planting, maintaining and celebrating trees. There is a
particular interest in schools that exhibit best practices in urban
forestry.
Walk through U-M's Diag
and it's easy to see why it is getting a coveted spot in the program's
inner circle. Among the other participating schools are Northern
Kentucky University, University of Texas, Arizona State, Oregon State,
the University of Nebraska, Virginia Tech, the University of
California-San Diego and Jackson State in Mississippi.
Each school will be recognized with a tree-planting event. About 1,000 trees will be planted during the Tree Campus USA events.
Source: Arbor Day Foundation
Writer: Jon Zemke
EMU's Pease Auditorium restoration almost complete
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2008
The most visible signs that work is wrapping up on the renovation of Eastern Michigan University's Pease Auditorium can be on seen on the building's exterior.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the landscaping around the building, including the creation of a small park at the corner of College Place and West Cross Street. The improved surrounding green space is meant to complement the $2.2 million restoration of the 94 year-old building.
"This is pretty much the icing on the cake," says Ward Mullens, a spokesman for Eastern Michigan University.
Construction workers have been laboring away on the building since the summer of 2007. During that time they have restored the decorative terra cotta and brick mason that adorns the main entrance façade and replaced the main entrance section of roof, as well as other internal and external repairs.
The building dates to 1914 and has undergone three renovations before this latest one. Those projects included installing an Aeolian/Skinner organ in 1960 and a complete interior renovation and an addition in 1995.
Source: Ward Mullens, a spokesman for Eastern Michigan University
Writer: Jon Zemke
Phase 1 of The Courtyards complete at U-M's North Campus
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2008
Education Realty Trust is moving along with its dorm project on the University of Michigan's North Campus – The Courtyards.
The firm just finished building the first phase of the 319-unit
development this fall and expects to complete the entire project next
summer.
Students have moved into the first 103 apartments in the
first phase. Another 216 apartments will come on line when the rest of
the project is done.
The development is located on Plymouth
Road near Broadway Street immediately adjacent to North Campus. It's
only a few blocks away from U-M's colleges of Engineering and
Architecture and the schools of Art and Music.
The dorm will
feature apartments that have as few as one bedroom and one bathroom and
as many as four bedrooms and four bathrooms. They will be in a series
of three- and five-story buildings.
The apartments are
fully-furnished and are equipped with full-sized kitchens, granite
countertops, in-unit washers and dryers, over-sized windows, high-speed
Internet access and 90 channels of satellite television, among other
amenities. There will also be recreational facilities, study and
meeting rooms, a music practice room with a piano, an outdoor badminton
court and a mini movie theater.
Source: Bob Hetherington, spokesman for Education Realty Trust
Writer: Jon Zemke
First two homes of Cedars of Dexter retirement development done
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2008
Some thing old. Something new. Both are just outside downtown Dexter.
The United Methodist Retirement Communities have finished building the first two homes of the The Cedars of Dexter development. The rest will be built once the development has secured 36 deposits on the homes.
"We hope to have our first residents move in by the winder of 2010," says Stacey Olson, director of marketing and public relations for United Methodist Retirement Communities
The project calls for 60 craftsman-style houses on 15 acres in an old farm field just on the other side of train tracks of downtown Dexter. The single-family homes will range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet and come with an attached garage. The smaller will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The larger will have all of that and a den.
There will also be a clubhouse in the development that comes with room for a spa, casual and fine dinning and life-learning studio space.
The homes range in price between $189,000 and $309,000, along with an entry fee.
Source: Stacey Olson, director of marketing and public relations for United Methodist Retirement Communities
Writer: Jon Zemke
Cupcake businesses no creampuffs in downtown Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2008
What does it say about a city when it's downtown has not one but two cupcake-based businesses? Quite a lot apparently.
"I think it's a quality of life indicator if there ever was one," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
"Not only do we have two cupcake stores, we have two dog biscuits/food
stores. It says a lot about downtown Ann Arbor as a place that
encourages these types of unique businesses."
The Cupcake Station, first opened in Birmingham, just opened on Liberty Street about one block east of Main Street. It joins Cake Nouveau on Fourth Avenue.
Cupcake
businesses aren't necessarily the stores that leaders of cities usually
drool over. They don't have the status of say a Trader Joe's or an
Urban Outfitters, but it is exactly the kind of small, quirky business
that once filled downtown.
Some have said that the exit of
stores like Fantasy Attic and Harry's Army Surplus only to be replaced
with more and more restaurants and bars has chipped away at the
strength of downtown. Perhaps cupcakes will be part of what makes it
stronger.
Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor wins award for enabling active transportation
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2008
Ann Arbor went for the gold and got it! The city was recently awarded a gold-level Active Communities Award.
An Active Communities Award is a fancy, bureaucratic way of saying a community that encourages people to get around by walking, running, bicycling and just about any way other than automobile. Needless to say, having one of those at the "gold level" says that community is really good at it.
Michigan's Promoting Active Communities Program pushed communities across the state to create and maintain an infrastructure that encourages physical activity, like walking, running and bicycling. Ann Arbor is one of 95 communities participating in the program and 23 that won an award.
Ann Arbor received its kudos because the city coordinates its efforts with a number of local organizations, such as Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce.
Among the city's attributes that helped it get to the gold level, which is the second highest designation, are bike lanes, promoting Curb-Your-Car Month and developing the Border-to-Border Trail, among others.
Other statistics that helped Ann Arbor are:
- The city has been named the No. 10 Greenest Commuter Community
- 7.9 percent of city residents bike or walk to work (the U.S. averages 3.21 percent)
- AARP ranked it the No. 1 Healthiest Hometown in the U.S.
- Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association designated it No. 3 as the Best Walking City.
Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke
Downtown Ann Arbor City Apartments project up for approval
Source: Concentrate, 11/5/2008
More tall buildings are lining up to be built in downtown Ann Arbor. A handful have already been approved and ready to rise with the latest green light going to the controversial 601 Forest. Next in line is Ann Arbor City Apartments, which will go for City Council approval Thursday night.
That project has grown a little bit since it was first proposed. The 9-story building has gone from 146 units to 156. It's even added a few more parking spots, raising that number to 244. The idea is that adding the spaces and units made the building more efficient and profitable.
"It's a great opportunity for us because there are no projects in Ann Arbor like the one we are proposing," says Andrea Roebker, director of public relations for Village Green Companies.
The Farmington Hills-based hopes to break ground on the development next spring and finish it within 18 months.
"It's a tough economy but we're still moving forward," Roebker says.
The project would replace a 1940s era parking garage on First and Washington streets across from the Blind Pig and Cavern Club. That parking structure was removed three years ago.
Gone will be a crumbling concrete structure, proposed to replace it is a modern-looking building. The bottom four levels of the building (two are underground) are set to be a parking garage decked out with ornamental metal grills. The upper stories are set to be rental apartments which will be marketed toward professionals.
That's something new for a downtown where new construction has either been reserved for student rentals or for-sale condos. The one- and two-bedroom apartments will average about 700 square feet. Ten percent of those apartments will be dedicated to affordable housing. The units will not have individual balconies or terraces, but there will be a community rooftop deck for all of the units.
The apartments have access to as many as 73 spaces during the day and 146 spaces during the night. The rest of the spots will be open to the public. The parking garage will be run by the city.
Village Green also plans to use extensive green building techniques and technologies in the Ann Arbor City Apartments building. Among those are using recyclable materials, installing a green roof and making the building energy efficient.
The company also plans to keep the building as rental apartments for the foreseeable future. The company owns similar downtown apartment buildings in Minneapolis and Chicago.
Source: Andrea Roebker, director of public relations for Village Green Companies
Writer: Jon Zemke
McKinley to renovate old National City space on Liberty
Source: Concentrate, 11/5/2008
The Liberty retail expansion for the McKinley Towne Centre has been downsized, but is still moving forward.
McKinley
will continue with its plans to renovate the old National City Bank
storefront if the City Council approves the sale of some common space
Thursday. McKinley originally planned to raze that structure and two
more next to the towne centre and build a new 2-story retail space
between it and the Michigan Theater.
Those
plans were shelved, but the existing retail space looks like it will
not only stay but be updated to complement the recently refurbished
towne centre.
"We're adding a lot of brick detail on the facade so it will look very
new," says Royal Caswell, executive vice president of commercial
real-estate for McKinley.
Construction is set to begin in a couple of weeks. It should wrap up in
March. Caswell declined to name the business that is going in there,
but did tip his hand enough to say that it's a restaurant.
McKinley transformed what was formerly an unattractive building into an attractive, colorful office complex, now headquarters to Google's Adwords
division. The once fortress-like building has become an inviting place
for pedestrians by opening up its ground floor retail to businesses
like Bar Louie, Salsarita's and AT&T while building over the surface parking lot.
The
expansion will continue that success, extending the traditional brick
facade that houses Salsa Rita's and AT&T all of the way to the
Michigan Theater. The old storefronts and the alleyway will be
eliminated for the ground floor new retail and second floor office
space.
Source: Royal Caswell, executive vice president of commercial real-estate for McKinley
Writer: Jon Zemke
Saline readies to turn on LED holiday lights in downtown
Source: Concentrate, 11/5/2008
The trees in downtown Saline are about to be lit up with holiday cheer, only for much less money this year.
The city removed the traditional holiday lights on downtown's foliage after they reached the end of their life cycle earlier this year. Since then, local officials have raised more several thousand dollars to replace them with energy-efficient LED lights.
The project cost about $36,000. The city promised to chip in $10,000 if downtown officials could raise the rest. That didn't turn out to be a problem, and the lights are set to start glowing within the next few days.
"We had a couple of large contributions," says Art Trapp, the downtown development director for the city of Saline.
The 50,000 lights usually cost $10.40 per day to light. The LED lights only cost $2.40 a day.
LED lights are much more efficient than normal incandescent bulbs because they only produce light visible to the human eye. That requires far less energy. LED also have a significantly longer lifespan.
Ann Arbor made a similar move with its downtown trees last year. It's also replacing its downtown streetlights with LED bulbs and plans to extend that to streetlights throughout the city.
Source: Art Trapp, the downtown development director for the city of Saline
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor's Greenbelt looks to add another 51 acres of farmland
Source: Concentrate, 11/5/2008
The Gould and Braun farms could prove to be quite the green space nugget for Ann Arbor's Greenbelt Program. The City Council will decide whether to approve purchasing the development rights to the farms Thursday night.
The 337 acres
of farmland is located near the corner of Whitmore Lake and Joy roads
in Ann Arbor Township. If the purchase is made, the land will remain in
its current state for the foreseeable future.
"It's all farmland," says Ginny Trocchio, program manager for Ann Arbor's Greenbelt.
Earlier
this year, the Ann Arbor Greenbelt targeted the farms in Ann Arbor
Township. Both are considered a high priority for preservation by the
township and the city.
The City Council could agree to pay
half of the purchase price of several hundred thousand dollars. The
rest of the money will come from Ann Arbor Township and Federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program grant. The Greenbelt program has utilized such federal grant programs in the past to the tune of $750,000.
The
city's Greenbelt Program provides funding to preserve and protect open
space, natural habitats and farms in the Ann Arbor area by purchasing
development rights. The city acquires these rights from willing sellers
who apply to participate in the program. Ann Arbor voters approved a
0.5-mill millage over 30 years to establish the Greenbelt Program in 2003. Since then the program has acquired the rights to 894 acres.
Source: Ginny Trocchio, program manager for Ann Arbor's Greenbelt
Writer: Jon Zemke