Concentrate - Development News

New concert venue opens in downtown Ypsilanti

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new mid-size live music venue is taking the stage this weekend in downtown Ypsilanti when Savoy opens its doors in the space that was once Club Divine.

The new two floor, two stage venue can accommodate up to 700 people in a space so large even the organizers behind the bar struggle to define its size. It joins The Ark, Michigan Theater and the Blind Pig (all located in downtown Ann Arbor) for mid-size venues in Washtenaw County.

"It's really filling a void in Washtenaw County for a mid-market venue," says Don Scheneder, talent buyer for Savoy. He adds that Savoy is more in line with the Bling Pig, which can only seat 400 people. It will also have smaller second floor stage that will host things, like comedy performances.

He adds that there is a quality sound and light system and eclectic space filled with art in the middle of a vibrant city center. The closest comparable venues are in downtown Detroit (St. Andrews Hall) and Pontiac (Crofoot Ballroom) or Royal Oak (Royal Oak Music Theatre). Savoy joins the Elbow Room as a significant performance venue of note in Ypsilanti, a city that is starting to flex its artistic muscle.

"We've got such a strong talent base here in Washtenaw County," Scheneder says. "We need a venue that will support it and the area."

Source: Don Scheneder, talent buyer for Savoy
Writer: Jon Zemke

Beal plans to tackle Ypsi's Thompson Block in phases

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Thompson Block development in Ypsilanti's Depot Town isn't going to magically complete itself today, tomorrow, this month and probably not even this year. But that doesn't mean developer Stewart Beal doesn't plan to get something done.

The Ypsilanti-based businessman plans to rehab the historic building at the eastern edge of Depot Town in phases. The first of these phases calls for turning the third of the building that wasn't heavily damaged in last fall's fire into a home for a new bar/restaurant.

"Our current plan is to do a mini-Thompson Block development," Beal says.

The project will convert about 5,000-7,000 square feet of the 3-story building into a new entertainment venue. The first floor will become a service area while the second and third floors will be combined into a bigger space, which could serve as a live entertainment venue. Beal is coy about when construction could begin.

"I don't have any comment on that," Beal says.

Beal and his partners are self-funding the project, because "there is no financing available for projects like this," Beal says. His company has six other apartment rehab projects ready to go in Ypsilanti and another one in Toledo but can't move forward on any of them because he can't line up financing.

The Thompson Block is one of Ypsilanti's oldest buildings, dating back to the Civil War when it served as an impromptu barracks for Union soldiers. It has since served as the home to the city's fire department, the first place to buy a bicycle and one of the first Dodge dealerships.

The building had fallen on hard times in the last generation or two when decades of neglect left it in bad shape. Beal acquired the building in recent years with plans to turn it into a mixed-use structure with 10,000-square-feet ground-floor retail space and 16 second-floor lofts.

A combination of securing tenants and the financial crisis had stalled the project from keeping its financing in line. That left work moving at a snail's pace until a fire ravaged through much of the building this fall. Beal, who has renovated a number of buildings in Ypsilanti into rentals, remains unfazed by the setback, pushing the project forward.

Some city officials have pushed for Beal to remove wall supports that take up a lane of traffic on East Cross St. Both sides are trying to work out a deal that permits the opening of the entire road to traffic and Beal to continue to push the development forward.

Source: Stewart Beal, developer of the Thompson Block
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Skatepark gets $400K match from Washtenaw County

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Washtenaw County is providing a potential cash infusion for the Ann Arbor's Skatepark plans, pledging to match up to $400,000 for the project.

"They're pretty confident they can raise this amount of money," says Bob Tetens, director of the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation. "We couldn't fund the whole thing but we could serve as a catalyst for their efforts."

Ann Arbor has been working to establish a skatepark for years, which is a bit out of character for a town that often sees itself as a leader in progressive causes and recreational offerings. Local volunteers and officials plan to build the city's first skatepark at Veterans Park near the corner of Maple and Miller roads on the city's northwest side. The cause has gained momentum in recent years.

"You want to invest money in successful programs," Tetens says. "There is clearly a groundswell of grass roots support for this project and a lot of institutional support."

He sees the skatepark serving a regional draw that should make Veterans Park, with its baseball fields and sledding hill, an even more intensely used park.

"I fully expect people to be driving 2-3 hours there to take advantage of it," Tetens says.

Source: Bob Tetens, director of the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation
Writer: Jon Zemke

New Michigan Stadium suites sell briskly

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Even though the economy is having problems the effects aren't visible at Michigan Stadium where nearly 70 percent of the luxury suites and 80 percent of the club seats for next season have sold.

The University of Michigan is in the latter stages of completely revamping one of college football's most hallowed grounds. The university is investing $226 million to add luxury suits, club seating and revamped facilities --such as bathrooms and concession stands-- throughout the stadium. The project, scheduled to be completed by this year's season opener, will raise Big House's capacity by 500 seats to 108,500.

The luxury suites, 81 in total, sell for $55,000 to $85,000 a piece. There are also 3,000 club seats with an asking price of $1,500 to $3,000 a piece. Prior to this project fans had been limited to bleacher seating (the stadium was built in 1927). So far 57 the university has 57 signed commitments for its luxury suites. The goal is to sell out by the season opener this fall.

"We're getting new commitments every day," says Joe Parker, a senior associate athletic director with U-M. Parker handles fund-raising and corporate relations for the Michigan Stadium project. He points out that most of the luxury suite commitments are from individuals, not corporations.

"The typical profile is someone who is a graduate of the university and a long-time supporter of campus development," Parker says. "They are usually a high-net worth individual or have ties to a large, family owned company."

The university will hold a walk through of the new facilities during the U-M Football Spring Game on April 16-17. More walk throughs will be held when construction wraps up in June. For information, call (734) 764-7131.

The 400,000-square-foot expansion includes two multi-story masonry structures on both the field's east and west sides. The level of the stadium bowl will stand 10 feet higher than the highest point of the current scoreboards. The new design will direct more crowd noise onto the field, too. There will also be two smaller buildings at the north and south end zones that house additional restrooms and concessions and support functions, such as first-aid, security and will-call.

Private donations and Athletic Department resources, primarily revenues generated by the new seating, will cover the renovation's $226-million price tag. Stephen M. Ross, one of the nation�s premier real estate developers, recently gave $5 million to the project through The Michigan Difference, the university�s $2.5 billion fundraising campaign.

Source: Joe Parker, a senior associate athletic director with the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor adopts single-stream recycling program

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Recycling in Ann Arbor is changing this week now that the Ann Arbor City Council has given the green light for single stream residential recycling.

The time-honored tradition of sorting recyclables will soon be gone, allowing city residents to put out all of their recycling in one new container. The new system, set to begin in XXX, will supposedly allow residents to recycle even more materials in process called a single-stream.

The recycled waste will be sorted out at the recycling plant, making the process more user-friendly. While some critics contend that contamination from mixed waste decreases the quality of recyclables, supporters say this loss is more than compensated for through increases in recycling rates. Ann Arbor officials hope the new system will bump up the city's 50 percent recycling average to 70 percent by 2012. Other cities have already made the jump to single-stream recycling, including Austin, Texas and Baltimore, MD.

Ann Arbor will invest $3.5 million into upgrades at its recycling facility to accommodate this transition. The staff levels would stay the same with machines handling the extra sorting. The switch would also require new recycling containers, costing $1.3 million. Gone will be the green and brown bins. Replacing them will be one large container.

Each of these containers will come with a bar code as part of the RecycleBank system, which rewards recyclers with coupons and prizes in proportion to how much they recycle. This system has helped significantly increase recycling efforts in both Rochester Hills and Westland, MI.

Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke

AATA earns $2.3M in stimulus cash for transit center

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

More mass transit funding is making its way into Ann Arbor courtesy of the feds.

The U.S. Dept of Transportation has awarded the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority $2.3 million as part of the $34.6 million Michigan received in federal transportation fund last week. The money ($700,000) is primarily geared toward rebuilding U-M's Central Campus Transit Center and improving AATA's bus storage facilities.

Earlier this year, U-M decided to redevelop its transit center along North University Street by the university's Chemistry building. The new bigger and better transit center will have more space for bus loading, storage and be more accessible and user friendly to the primarily student patrons. It will service both U-M and AATA buses.

"It's a key transfer location," says Mary Stasiak, a spokeswoman for AATA.

The $4.5 million project was designed by the U-M Dept of Architecture and Hubbell, Roth & Clark. Construction will begin shortly and finish by this fall.

Another $1 million will go toward improving AATA's bus storage facilities. More money ($220,000) will help improve bus stops and pedestrian safety around them. Some of the money will also be used to help maintain service to the Ypsilanti.

Source: U.S. Dept of Transportation and Mary Stasiak, a spokeswoman for Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

North Quad construction heads into home stretch

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In case you haven't noticed the big, brick building taking shape on the north side of the University of Michigan's Central Campus, North Quad is heading into the final stages of construction.

"We're really in the finishing mode," says Sue Gott, planner for the University of Michigan. "All of the interior walls and structures are in place."

Construction workers are also putting together the courtyard as a way of completing the exterior of the building. Work is expected to wrap up in May so the university's housing division can begin installing things like furniture in time for student move-in this fall.

The University of Michigan began construction on North Quad in 2007 by demolishing the old Frieze Building, which was originally built as Ann Arbor High School in 1907 (corner of State and Huron streets in downtown). The University of Michigan bought the building in the 1950s for use as space for college classes.

North Quad is U-M's first new dorm in 40 years. The complex features an academic tower facing Washington and State streets, which will house U-M's Department of Screen Arts and Cultures, the Department of Communication Studies, the Language Resource Center and the Sweetland Writing Center (all components of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts) along with the School of Information.

The residence hall will face East Huron Street and offer two configurations. The first includes suites containing two double rooms, a living room and a bathroom. The second features arrangements of four single rooms sharing a bathroom. Each residence hall floor houses lounges. The building also will offer a community learning center with additional small group study areas.

Source: Sue Gott, planner for the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti's What is That? building preps for new facade

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Maurer family has a some noticeable plans for the building that houses the Mix and What is That? art gallery in downtown Ypsilanti.

The Ypsilanti-based developers bought the structure at 128-130 W Michigan Ave. in 2007. Then it was a vacant foreclosure with a lot of problems, ranging from a leaky roof to condemned apartments.

"There were a few challenges," says Eric Maurer, who co-owns and develops a number of rental properties in Ypsilanti with his wife Karen.

They rehabbed the 2-story building into six lofts and some ground floor retail space that filled up relatively quickly. However, the rusted and weather-worn steel paneling and other façade improvements of yore remained unaddressed, until this year.

The Maurers plan to spend $123,500 to repair the brick façade of the early 20th Century building and add some fresh paint. They also plan to replacing the windows with Low-E glass. The end result should be a refreshed Art Deco look that will look completely different.

"I really want to make it a show stopper," Maurer says. "It's a pretty important corner to downtown."

The Maurers are applying for matching façade-improvement funds from state of Michigan. Construction is expected to begin this spring or summer and wrap up before next winter sets in.

Source: Eric Maurer, co-owner of 128-130 W Michigan Ave
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor prepares for more roundabouts at Geddes/U.S. 23

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Work is about to begin in earnest on the roundabouts for the Geddes Road exit for U.S. 23 on the east side of Ann Arbor.

Construction crews should begin building the three roundabouts in April and wrap up work in October. This project will bring the number of roundabouts in or being considered for Washtenaw County to 10, including seven in the city. The city is also looking at adding another one to the intersection of Fuller Road and Maiden Lane next to the University of Michigan Hospital.

"Certainly the city is considering adding more to its jurisdiction," says David Dykman, project manager for the city of Ann Arbor.

The Geddes Road exit plans call for three roundabouts that will replace traffic lights at the on/off-ramps for the exit and the intersection of Geddes and Earhart Road.

Roundabouts, a.k.a. traffic circles, are seen as the most cost-effective way to improve flow and relieve congestion at the intersection without expanding it. The project is also looking at improving the intersection by providing places for pedestrian and bicyclists, while also improving drainage, lighting, utilities and landscaping in the area.

Roundabouts have been popping up like dandelions around Ann Arbor in recent years. A pair of them were installed at the Maple Road exit for M-14 to accommodate increased traffic from nearby Skyline High School. Another is at the intersection of Nixon Road and Huron Parkway.

Modern roundabouts include a central island to guide the vehicular traffic and splitter islands at each leg of an intersection. One-way traffic moves around the central island where entering traffic must yield to the traffic already in the roundabout.

Traffic circles slow and calm traffic, resulting in fewer accidents. They also decrease delays and cut down on the number of idling vehicles, reducing air pollution.

They are common throughout Europe and have been appearing more frequently in North America in recent years. More common on the coasts, roundabouts and traffic circles have been popping up in southeast Michigan's suburbs in recent years.

Source: David Dykman, project manager for the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti's Clean Energy Coalition wins $50K energy grant

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Clean Energy Coalition continues to rake in the government grant money, taking in another six figures to help spread the gospel of energy efficiency.

The Ypsilanti-based non-profit received $58,300 from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth to help communities become more energy efficient and utilize more clean energy outlets. The Clean Energy Coalition's money will allow it to do this in 37 small communities (35,000 people or less) in south and south-central Michigan.

"We'll be doing things like helping them with energy audits of their facilities and setting up monitoring systems of their energy systems," says Sean Reed, founder and executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition.

The Clean Energy Coalition has received millions of dollars in state and federal grants over the last year. Most of that money is geared toward pushing for more energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in transportation.

The Michigan Municipal League Foundation, also received a $58,396 state grant. The Ann Arbor-based organization will use it to do the same thing in the southwest, western and northern portion of the state.

The grants are part of a $195,996 grant from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth. The funds originally came from the federal stimulus package. That money will help 125 municipalities receive technical assistance on becoming more sustainable from four non-profits. That basically means it will help these communities make their facilities more energy efficient through things like energy audits and harness renewable energy sources.

The other two non-profits to receive funding are the WARM Training Center in Detroit, which will cover southeast Michigan, and the Michigan Energy Options in East Lansing for communities in the state's Upper Peninsula.

Source: Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth and Sean Reed, founder and executive director of the Clean Energy Coalition
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M PhD study focuses on local energy efficient habits

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Some of the easiest sustainability gains can come from developing good habits in everyday life. At least that's the idea that's starting to emerge from a University of Michigan's PhD student's recent study.

Kim Wolske, a doctoral candidate at the university's School of Natural Resources & Environment, conducted a study last fall of a few dozen Ann Arbor households. The idea was to determine how much energy a household could save by establishing some simple habits, like turning down the thermostat.

Wolske sent out 3,000 letters to a random sample of Ann Arbor residents to see if they would be interested in reducing their carbon footprint during the month of October. Of those 195 households signed up and 85 completed the challenge.

Participants did everything from unplugging unnecessary electronics to excluding meat from at least one meal a week. They could log onto a website and see how much energy their actions saved. The goal was to reduce their carbon footprint by 2 percent.

"In general households saved 6 percent of their energy consumption," says Wolske, who is still analyzing the data. She expects to release the study by the end of the year.

"I didn't expect people to be too willing to give up meat or be willing to change their diet as much as they did," Wolske says. "It was a heart-warming experience to see how many households were willing to give it a shot."

She has been working with city of Ann Arbor's Energy Dept., which plans to use the statistics to help it meet its Energy Challenge goal.

"This could be really valuable information for us to create behavioral changes," says Andrew Brix, energy programs manager for the city of Ann Arbor.

Source: Kim Wolske, a doctoral candidate at the university's School of Natural Resources & Environment and Andrew Brix, energy programs manager for the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M opens new tower of Kellogg Eye Center

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new research center at the University of Michigan is opening now that the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center Complex has completed the Brehm Tower.

The $132 million facility provides 230,000 square feet that will expand U-M's capacity for eye-care research and education. Researchers will also be working on how eye sight relates to diabetes and other diseases.

That research is becoming more in demand because it primarily affects older segments of the population. The U.S. population, as well as Michigan's, continues to get older as Baby Boomers reach retirement age.

"This population will be growing significantly over the next 15-20 years," says Dr. Paul R. Lichter, professor and chair of the University of Michigan Dept of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and director of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center. "That population is the one that has glaucoma and other ailments we specialize in."

The Brehm Tower stands at eight stories and overlooks Wall Street next to U-M's medical campus on the near north side of the city. The new building houses seven eye care clinics with new suites for refractive surgery and cosmetic surgery. The upper floors will serve as the home to the Brehm Center for Diabetes Research and laboratories for vision scientists. They will perform research on both ophthalmology and diabetes.

TSA of Massachusetts, the building's architect, incorporated a modern design complete with either large windows or full walls of glass panels on the building's façade. The idea is to introduce more natural light into the building, which is often seen as a sustainable characteristic because the building usually requires less electricity for lighting.

Source: Dr. Paul R. Lichter, professor and chair of the University of Michigan Dept of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and director of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

Fed Stimulus funds expansion of U-M research facilities

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As a new University of Michigan research building opens another has received funding to begin construction.

The federal stimulus is sending $14.8 million toward the U-M Institute for Social Research to build a significant new addition to the institute's home on Thompson Street. The 50,000 square foot addition will expand the reach of the world's largest academic social science research and survey organization.

It will also create a variety of jobs... estimates suggest as many as 200 more jobs. They will include short-term construction positions as well as long-term research employment.

"In the long term we estimate about 90 new research and research support staff," James S. Jackson, research professor and director at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, wrote in an email. "All of them may not be in the new space, existing staff may be moved into this space but the new hires may occupy space vacated by other staff."

The addition will mostly house the university's Health and Retirement Research group and Survey Methodology. The project will apply for LEED certification. Construction is expected to begin in the next 14-20 months.

This is just the latest multi-million grant U-M's Institute for Social Research has received from the federal stimulus. So far the institute has raked in $48.3 million.

Source: James S. Jackson, research professor and director at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research
Writer: Jon Zemke

Germantown historic district moves forward in Ann Arbor

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The political football that is the proposed Germantown Historic District is about to be hiked again now that a report advocating for the creation of the historic district has been released.

The 28-page report says a public meeting about the creation of the historic district on the south side of downtown is expected to be held in May. The committee charged with exploring its creation must also finish its work by September. Right now it's moving toward creating the historic district.

"Through its older homes, grid like layout and street alley � it reflects the period during which early settlement of Ann Arbor by Yankees as well as Germans immigrant families took place," the report states. "It contains the homes of a number of early city leaders."

The proposed Germantown Historic District encompasses three blocks that include both sides of Fourth and Fifth avenues between William Street and Packard Road, along with both sides of Packard between Fourth and Fifth.

It is also the area where the City Place development (now called Heritage Row) is proposed and near the proposed Moravian project. Both developments call for building dense housing geared toward people who want to live close to downtown Ann Arbor. The historic district has been used as a political tool by some local preservationists who are or have opposed either or both developments.

Politics aside, the report contains interesting information about the neighborhood. It includes 46 homes and one church that were built between 1838 and 1925. Most were built in the late 19th Century. Those homes represent a wide variety of architectural styles, including Greek Revival, Italianate, Arts and Crafts, Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival and Queen Anne homes. The Queen Anne was popular because of the easy access to lumber from Michigan's plentiful lumber mills.

The church, Bethlehem Evangelical, was built in 1895 in a Romaneque Revival style with Gothic influences. Its stone work serves as the biggest architectural statement. It also is the church that spawned Zion Lutheran Church on the city's west side.

"It's one of the city's oldest neighborhoods," says Patrick McCauley, chair of the historic district creation committee. "Its part of the original plat of 1824. There are a few houses there that date from this period."

The neighborhood was originally settled in the early 19th Century by American Yankees. German immigrant families began moving into the neighborhood in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. By 1880 one out of nine of every Ann Arbor residents was German born. The population was served by a German newspaper, shooting club, cornet club, a large park and athletic society. The common denominator was the word German in the title.

University of Michigan faculty and students began to move into the building as the 20th Century began to take shape. First it was through German families taking on boarders.

"There was a significant period of time everyone had a boarder in their house," says Rebecca Lopez-Kriss, who serves on the historic district creation committee. "It was normal."

The neighborhood converted to university off-campus housing by World War II when U-M underwent a rapid expansion. Today the neighborhood is a mix of a few local families and mostly university student renters.

"Keep in mind," Lopez-Kriss adds, "the sole charge of the committee is to weigh whether the neighborhood has historic value. All other considerations like affordable housing, density, sustainability have to be weighed by city council. It's also not our job to evaluate the economic benefits or even whether someone would ever spend the money to restore these homes."

Source: City of Ann Arbor and Rebecca Lopez-Kriss, member of the Germantown Historic District Committee and Patrick McCauley, chair of the Germantown Historic District Committee
Writer: Jon Zemke

New bike rules in Ann Arbor no longer require registration

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One would think a town as obsessed with alternative transportation and bike lanes as Ann Arbor would be expanding its bike registry. However, City Council is moving to eliminate what has become a cumbersome program.

For decades, city has charged $8 for people to register their bike, primarily to help fight bicycle theft. About 650-700 bicycles are registered each year. That has meant that list has grown to thousands upon thousands dating back to the 1970s. Many of those registrations were logged by local students.

"The ones that were U-M students in 1986 and are no longer anywhere near the city anymore, we don't need those," says Eli Cooper, transportation program manager for the city of Ann Arbor.

City staff had proposed reforming the system so any bike registration that reaches five years old would be automatically culled from the lists unless it is renewed. Cooper estimates that could help push bike registration up to 1,000 bikes per year.

However, there is the argument that a bicycle registration isn't necessary at all. Modern bicycles come with a serial number stamped into their frame. Those numbers can be logged onto an online database, National Bike Registry, which is also accessible to local law enforcement. Cooper argues that while the registry is useful it, a local bike registry makes it easier for local law enforcement to navigate a shorter list.

Source: Eli Cooper, transportation program manager for the city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke

3 Ypsilanti businesses win façade improvement grants

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Three downtown Ypsilanti buildings have been selected to apply for the matching façade improvement grants from the state of Michigan.

These three developers are asking for $92,817 in matching funds from the $400,000 the state sets aside each year to help jump start façade-improvement programs. The program matches up to 50 percent of a project's cost. These projects revolve around improving building exteriors, such as creating bigger windows and restoring brick facades.

The candidates include the Mix and What is That? art gallery at 128-130 W Michigan Ave. in downtown. That $123,500 project calls for replacing the windows with Low-E glass, repairing the brick façade and some fresh paint. A rental property on 601 W Cross St. hopes to replace its front porch and door, replant some trees and add some fresh paint.

The third project includes freshening up the former Silent Cat building at 12-16 N Huron. That project would repair and clean its brick façade, replace its awnings and install some custom lighting fixtures.

The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority expects to hear from the state by April. Each selected city can take in between $25,000-$100,000 of the $400,000 in state funds.

"I'm pretty sure its all or nothing," says Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority.

Source: Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

Michigan Islamic school project begins approval process

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The expansion of the Michigan Islamic Academy is moving forward now that the project is before the Ann Arbor Planning Commission. If approved this spring construction should start this summer.

"We are hoping that everything remains on schedule," says Tarek Nahlawi, the program manager for the Michigan Islamic Academy.

The Pre-K through 12 school on Plymouth Road plans to double its space within the next year. The 10,000-square-foot complex has been on the city's northeast side since 1987. It now serves 204 students.

The $1.5 million project calls for building an additional 10,000-square-feet standing three stories tall. It will have space for eight classrooms and a cafeteria. The current school, which only has eight classrooms, doesn't have a cafeteria and must use a temporary trailer to accommodate its growth.

Construction is expected to take nine months to complete.

Source: Tarek Nahlawi, the program manager for the Michigan Islamic Academy
Writer: Jon Zemke

It's almost spring, and transit centers are sprouting in Ann Arbor

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Transit centers are now development du jour in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan recently unveiled plans to develop its own student-transit center. This plan joins others in the works for the Blake Transit Center, Fuller Road Station and the new stop for the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line.

"Having these stations really transforms our community," says Nancy Shore, executive director of the getDowntown program. "It's really changing the environment so people can be more comfortable when they use these other forms of transportation."

The Central Campus Transit Center plan consists of rebuilding the bus shelters and widening North University between Fletcher and Church streets (next to the U-M Chemistry building). The wider street will accommodate an extra lane of traffic for bus-drop-offs, bikes and pedestrians. It will be utilized by both the university bus system and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The $4.5 million project was designed by the U-M Dept of Architecture and Hubbell, Roth & Clark. Construction will begin shortly and finish by this fall.

Other anticipated projects include a recreation of the city's Depot Street Amtrak train station on the city's near north side to accommodate traffic from the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line; a multi-modal transit center on Fuller Road next to U-M Hospital to serve trains, buses, cars, bikes and pedestrians; and a redevelopment of AATA's downtown Blake Transit Center.

Source: University of Michigan and Nancy Shore, executive director of the getDowntown program
Writer: Jon Zemke

Zingerman's expansion, Library Lot become talk of Ann Arbor

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Two of Ann Arbor's biggest project proposals are about to become the talk of the town � the Library Lot and the Zingerman's expansion.

The people behind Zingerman's are making another push toward expanding their deli and coffee shop facilities in Kerrytown. They will be holding a public meeting about their plans at 5 p.m. on March 8 at the deli, 422 Detroit St. Zingerman's has grown into a family of businesses with facilities all over the city, but its headquarters remains in the storefront in downtown Ann Arbor.

"We've been doing business there for 28 years in March," says Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman's. "We'd like to keep doing business here for another 28 years. The original building isn't built for the type of intensity it currently hosts."

About 200 people work in the small 2-story commercial building and a couple of adjacent houses. The plans call for renovating most of those buildings and building a denser structure behind it. That would replace a couple of smaller houses (including one that was burned), a plan which the local historic district found objectionable.

Zingerman's plans to request a "notice to proceed" from the city, which would allow the company to go forward with a project that benefits the Ann Arbor community. To do that, Zingerman's must have all of its ducks in a row, including city approval and financing arranged.

Saginaw argues the new building will not only fit into the existing aesthetic of the neighborhood, but will provide significant benefits for the city as a whole. For instance, the new facilities will increase Zingerman's tax bill by a factor of four or five. It will hire more people, increase its contributions to local non-profits, maintain the vibrancy of its corner of the city, and continue to generate positive publicity for Ann Arbor.

Also on the docket is a meeting on the proposals for downtown Ann Arbor's Library Lot hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. The non-partisan group will host a public meeting about the development's proposals tonight at the Ann Arbor City Club, 1850 Washtenaw Ave. The idea is to keep the conversation going in the community so local leaders can make the most informed decision possible.

"At least the city council will understand what the people want," says Zoe Behnke, president of the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area.

To do that people behind the five proposals will give five minute presentations on their developments. Another hour will be will be set aside for public questions and comments, which will be limited to two minutes per person.

The meeting will be held between 7-9 p.m. For information, call 734-665-5808.

Source: Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman's, and Zoe Behnke, president of the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area
Writer: Jon Zemke

Georgetown Mall heads to foreclosure, new life?

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Georgetown Mall is facing a historically uncommon fate for commercial property in Washtenaw County.

The county is about to foreclose on the strip mall and former home to a Kroger supermarket on Packard Road for non-payment of taxes. This process is the first step in a possible redevelopment of the now vacant, distressed property.

The owner has until March 31 to redeem the property from foreclosure by paying at least one year's worth of taxes. In the event of non-payment, the county takes control of the property and puts it up for auction. Bidding starts at the total amount of back taxes, fees, penalties, interest and costs owed. In this case, think at least $500,000, and probably more.

"My goal in all of this is to get the taxes back instead of foreclose," says Catherine McClary, the treasurer for Washtenaw County.

To put this in perspective, the county has had 92,266 properties face tax foreclosure since 1999. Of those, only 164 have been auctioned; most have been residential. However, auction numbers are expected to rise significantly this year.

"It's getting tougher," McClary says. "This year is catching up with us. We're seeing a lot of commercial property, and we used to rarely see commercial property. Georgetown Mall is just an example of what we're starting to see."

Source: Catherine McClary, the treasurer for Washtenaw County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Heritage Row development pushes towards approval

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After months and months (it feels like years and years) of starts and stalls, the downtown Ann Arbor project once called City Place is making significant headway.

The development, now called Heritage Row, is moving through the city's planning commission process and heading toward a possible approval as soon as this summer.

"We're making some modifications and some final selections," says Alex de Parry, the developer of Heritage Row. "We're making adjustments."

Those include giving the new construction portion a more traditional look. The ideas is to match the historic homes to be renovated during the project.

The development calls for preserving the original houses along Fifth Avenue just north of Packard Street and building a series of three apartment buildings behind them. It's a layout that is reminiscent of the Chicago- or C-style apartment buildings of the early 20th Century.

Project financing is already lined up, de Parry says. However, he adds, a construction start date is still uncertain right now. That might change now that a number of neighbors have gotten on board with the new plans after months of bitter opposition.

"I don't think we'll please everybody, but we are trying to please a majority of the people," de Parry says. "This is the compromise."

Source: Alex de Parry, developer of Heritage Row
Writer: Jon Zemke

EMU takes over Michigan's Historical Marker program

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Eastern Michigan University's revered historic preservation program is extending its reach now that it's taking over Michigan's Historical Marker program.

EMU is working with the Michigan History Foundation and the Michigan Historical Commission to run the program. This means every time you see one of those new historical markers detailing the story behind a building, EMU will have helped make that possible.

"We have a long relationship with Eastern Michigan and we know the students there," says Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing. "They were interested so we thought this would be best for Michigan's historical markers."

The program began in 1955 to ensure that markers tell the important, accurate stories about Michigan's past. There are now about 1,630 markers across the state. An executive order shook up the normal agency that has overseen the program, so handing it over to EMU and its partners was done as a cost-cutting move.

EMU will incorporate the historical markers into its graduate Historic Preservation Program. Selected students will prepare marker texts as the final project for a master's degree and present them to the commission for approval. EMU's Historic Preservation Program is the largest graduate program in historic preservation in the nation, and the only such program in Michigan.

Source: Eastern Michigan University and Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M's Varsity Building renovation to hold zoology collection

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Michigan is moving forward with the renovation of the Varsity Building now that the university's Board of Regents has approved schematic plans for the project.

A renovation of 46,000 square feet of space to accommodate the wet collection for the university's Museum of Zoology is on the drawing board. The development also includes a 6,000-square-foot storage area for the collection.

The $17.6 million project includes a revamp of the building's architecture and mechanical systems. Construction is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2012.

Source: University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

U-M's Barbour, Newberry dorms prove long-lasting worth

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Two of the University of Michigan's most unique dormitories once again proved their resilience as Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry continued to hold their historic ground in a campus forever modernizing its student-housing options.

The two mansion-style dorms across State Street from the Diag date from the early 20th Century and today house 221 students between the two of them. The period architecture makes the buildings easily mistaken for a fraternity or sorority.

They stand in contrast to the beehive of housing that is the university's quads and Hill area dorms. In fact the university decided last week to let Barbour keep its dining facilities instead of moving them to the nearby, nearly finished North Quad. Barbour and Newberry have been able to avoid consolidation into larger dorms by carving out a niche, serving as a female-only dorm with a down-home feel.

"It's so home like," says Ankita Mohanty, a senior with a major in psychology at U-M who has lived in Newberry for three years. "Even the lighting is a little different, a little home like. It makes us feel like we�re in a house more than a dorm."

Mohanty points out that the "beautiful" architecture and high interaction between students helps improve the student living experience by providing another living option. The near constant interaction between students who live there helps encourage a more personal bond.

"When I leave the resident hall I am leaving a very comfortable space," Mohanty says. "Coming back is like coming back to friends and family."

Source: Ankita Mohanty, student at the University of Michigan and Peter Logan, spokesman for the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Q&A: Stewart Beal on the future of Ypsilanti's Thompson Block

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The road to redevelopment for the Thompson Block has been both long and winding, to put it nicely. But its developer is willing to shed a little light on what's ahead and why it's worth the journey.

Stewart Beal wants to turn the historic building on the eastern edge of Ypsilanti's Depot Town into a combination of lofts and commercial space. He was well on his way to doing so before the financial crisis and then a fire hit the development. But Beal remains unfazed, and continues working to make the project a reality.

He recently put forward plans to finish stabilizing the building and remove the supports from the sidewalk and street within the next year.

Full disclosure: This writer has argued on MarkMaynard.com to give Beal a fair shot at redeveloping the site after the fire.

Here is Beal's argument for why the Thompson Block project remains viable. He answered the questions via email.

It was pretty difficult making this project work before the fire, please explain why this project is still feasible after the fire?

It was actually very easy to make this project work before the fire. What stopped us in our tracks was the financial crisis, particularly the crisis in commercial real estate lending. The project always worked financially until the fire and we had a good loan offer until Citizens Bank purchased Republic Bank and then closed the Republic Bank real estate lending department. Currently not a single bank in the Midwest, that I am aware of, is providing construction financing of this type.

This project will only become feasible with a massive infusion of equity and debt. I am pursuing both.

There are a lot of people who believe the city should just knock down the Thompson Block and move on. You are clearly not one of them. What would it mean for Ypsilanti if this project came to fruition?

Let me be clear: There are not a lot of people who believe the city should just knock down the Thompson Block and move on. The vast majority of the business people, the decision makers in the City of Ypsilanti, and the people who come to the city council meetings to express their views, want to see the building saved. There continues to be a lot of people who are extremely supportive of my efforts to develop the building before and after the fire and I am extremely grateful for that support.

I would recommend that you ask others what it would mean for Ypsilanti if this project came to fruition because I wouldn�t like to presume. But I know it would be the greatest accomplishment in my life to date. I live in the area and spend a lot of time in Depot Town so it is important for both personal and business reasons.

Most developers would walk away from a project like this after the fire. Why are you determined to move forward?

I finish what I start, no matter how difficult or costly.

If the Thompson Block falls, what are the chances something will be built on the site any time in the next decade?

The answer to this question depends completely on the Michigan economy, and the health of the Michigan commercial real estate market. I wish I could predict the future and answer this question. In my opinion it will be 7 to 10 years before a new building could be built on the site.

Describe what it's like to get financing for this project?

Obtain financing for this project continues to be a frustrating experience. I work on this on a daily basis.

In a sentence or two, sum up the argument for going forward with this project?

The Thompson Block is one of the most historic buildings in the State of Michigan and is extremely important to Ypsilanti's history. The City of Ypsilanti was founded over 100 years ago and it will be here 100 years from now. I would strongly urge the community to think long term and work to preserve history, on every building in Ypsilanti, no matter how difficult or temporarily inconvenient.

Source: Stewart Beal, developer of the Thompson Block
Writer: Jon Zemke

Finding the balance between green space and development in downtown Ann Arbor

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Could the city known for its plethora of parks not have enough in its core? That's the argument of some in Ann Arbor as calls for increasing green space in the college town's downtown grow louder and more persistent. But where is the line between park and urban development?

"Ann Arbor is the one area everyone thinks we don't have enough parks," says Ray Detter, chair of the city's Downtown Area Citizens Advisory Committee and a downtown resident.

That argument was made loud and clear when the initial proposals for the Library Lot project were being debated. It's what led to recent suggestions by the city that their 415 W Washington property (an old Dept. of Public Works yard) could become a new green space and arts center.

The Library Lot is being groomed for dense, urban development while 415 W Washington, which was once headed in that direction, has been offered up as a potential concession. The two leading proposals for the Library Lot call for a mixed-use development of hotel and commercial space.

The 415 W Washington parcel includes an early 20th Century industrial building, which is now being proposed as home for a new community art center. Former plans for the surrounding acreage called for a combination of residential development with a touch of green. Now its all community space all the time, with an additional park space proposal.

A map of Ann Arbor's downtown shows that it is ringed by significant parks, including West and Wheeler parks, the Huron Riverfront and the University of Michigan's Diag. But the actual city center lacks green space with the exception of Liberty Plaza.

"I see the Allen Creek Greenway and adjacent park (415 W Washington site) as a counterbalance to the campus green space," Detter says.

Detter also maintains that park development should not get in the way of creating more density downtown and attracting more residents to the city's core. He believes there are times when spaces like the Library Lot should be oriented for development rather than additional park space. He prefers dense development oriented toward bringing more residents to downtown for the Library Lot over proposals for turning the entire space into a park.

"I find it concerning that if people don't have a park our of their front door then we don't [believe] have enough green space," Detter says.

Source: Ray Detter, chair of the city's Downtown Area Citizens Advisory Committee
Writer: Jon Zemke

New Chinatown developing near Ypsilanti?

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Could the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area organically grow its own Chinatown now that Hua Xing is expanding its Asian market business to include an adjacent restaurant? If plans for further expansion come to fruition the answer could be yes.

Xingchou Wang, the owner of Hua Xing Asian Market and his management team have researched and toured many of North America's major metropolitan areas and noticed they all have something that Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti and Metro Detroit doesn't.

"The one thing they all have in common is a Chinatown," says Steve Xiao, the general manager of Hua Xing. "We don't have one."

Hua Xing has invested in excess of $1 million to turn an old Chinese buffet-style eatery into a much bigger sit-down Chinese restaurant. The new facility, next door to Hua Xing on Washtenaw Ave. (by the Ypsi-Arbor Bowl), will seat about 500 people and measures nearly 15,000 square feet. The Asian market remains the same.

Xiao sees Hua Xing growing its presence on that section of Washtenaw in the near future, with even more Chinese and Asian offerings. The idea is to create an Asian retail center for all of Michigan.

Watch Concentrate's video on Hua Xing here.

Source: Steve Xiao, the general manager of Hua Xing
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti pushes façade improvement program

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ypsilanti is making another effort to put a better face on its downtown, but this year local officials are taking that cliché literally. They are rallying local stakeholders to make plans to improve building facades in the city's downtown and Depot Town.

The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority is hoping to harness part of $400,000 in state money to jump start its façade improvement program. That money could lead to a 50 percent match for stakeholders who make significant improvements to their building's exteriors. Think: bigger windows or restoration of brick façades.

"We have had a few businesses come and make inquiries," says Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority.

If successful, Ypsilanti could rope in between $25,000-$100,000 in state funds. Applications are due later this month and the decision is expected by spring.

Source: Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor's getDowntown reports record usage for go!pass

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Mass transit usage is on the rise in downtown Ann Arbor if one goes by the popularity of the city's go!pass and Night Ride programs.

The Night Ride late night shared-ride taxi service that operates when local bus routes are not in service, while the go!pass is a $5 bus pass available to those same workers. Users of go!pass can use the Night Ride for $1 rather than the normal $5 price.

The getDowntown program is reporting that go!pass sales are at their highest levels since they were offered for free at their introduction in 2000. Today's sales numbers are just below those previous highs. November clocked in at 33,279 go!pass rides. December had 36,807 and January hit 40,622.

"This is increasing exponentially," says Nancy Shore, executive director of getDowntown.

The Night Ride has evolved into a taxi-like service. It went from 70 rides in August to 532 in January. The idea behind the program is to maximize the parking spaces and vibrancy of downtown by getting as many people into the city's center without encouraging more automobiles.

Source: Nancy Shore, executive director of getDowntown
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti's Spur Studios full, next version on the way

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

James Marks had always heard the rumblings of Ypsilanti becoming the new Bohemia for local artists, but he never really bought into that way of thinking until he opened Spur Studios.

Half a year later the Russell Industrial Center-style artist center on Ypsilanti's east side is hanging up its "no vacancy" sign and operating on cruise control. It became such a quick and impressive success that Marks plans to open another studio soon.

"It obviously occurred to us that this is marketable. It's been a fantastic experience," says Marks, who also serves as the founder and creative director of Ypsilanti-based VGKids. "The community has really turned out. Ypsilanti is getting this reputation as an artistic community and I didn't really believe it because I had been here for 10 years and never really felt it. But there is an artistic community here. We have had an overwhelming response."

Spur Studios transformed vacant office space attached to an old manufacturing facility near Eastern Michigan University, 800 Lowell St., into studio spaces for artists and small businesses. Right now that 10,000 square feet of space is full with artists and entrepreneurs looking for a place that costs a few dollars a month in rent and comes with even fewer rules.

"There are some graphic designers making a living here and some people making art," Marks says. "There are some dedicated hobbyists."

Source: James Marks, founder of Spur Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke