Development News

A Main Street without cars in downtown Ann Arbor?

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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Ann Arbor

Main Street in downtown is arguably the most walkable place in Ann Arbor, but turning that thoroughfare into a place only for walking? The idea is being floated again by Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje.

His proposal calls for closing Main between William and Washington streets (and perhaps even to Huron) for a couple of weekends next summer. Traffic would be rerouted on nearby side streets. That section is often closed for events both big and small during the summertime weekends when that stretch of downtown is filled with pedestrians.

"I constantly hear from residents about how they love that," says Hieftje, who has brought up turning Main in downtown into a pedestrian-only corridor since 2002.

This idea would test to see how keeping it closed from Friday evening to Sunday during non events would play out. It would allow restaurants and retailers to stretch further into the sidewalks or even the street, giving them more space to do more business.

"Restaurants could use the space for another 10 tables during a peak time," Hieftje says.

Hieftje plans to lead the conversation between city officials, local residents and business owners about making this experiment happen over the next year.

Source: Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje
Writer: Jon Zemke