New housing development planned on Glendale Drive in Ann Arbor's West Side
There is not very much empty space left in Ann Arbor for new housing developments. However, plans are in the works for a new 16-unit multi-family condominium complex on a currently unused lot on Glendale Drive.
The location on Glendale Drive currently has trees scattered around the property.
Ben Freed | AnnArbor.com
According to city tax records, Ann Arbor developer Jeffery Starman owns the site, currently which has two single-family residences. Those residences would be demolished to make way for the new project.
Susan Bowers, a senior associate at Bowers Associates, said the property is being developed by Glendale Orchard, LLC. The company’s agent is Gerald “Jerry” Spears who works with Starman at Madison Property Company.
Each unit in the proposed development would have its own entry and a single car garage.
The citizen participation meeting will be held on at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 15 at Cobblestone Farm. Once the meeting is held the company working on the project, Bowers Associates, plans to submit site plans to the city and hopes to appear before the planning commission as early as Feb. 26.
“If all goes well with the planning, we think they [the developer] would like to start construction in the spring and see the apartments completed by the end of the year,” Bowers said.
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
Left is Right
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
That's the old haunted orchard. Wouldn't build there.
David
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 10:15 p.m.
Wow, another row of pathetic condo's destroying not only the landscape this time, but leveling a beautiful old orchard on the west side of Ann Arbor. It wasn't long ago when city officials and residents alike used to petition and protect things like this happening in Ann Arbor, but those days are gone. Anything for a buck. What an eyesore this will be amidst such a lovely neighborhood. You can build this kind of structure downtown, but please stay out of old residences. I hope that something can be done about this and that the superior land preservation society will step in and stop this from taking place. You can build condo's anywhere but you can't build old growth orchards. This makes me sick. Key Joni Mitchell song: "They took all the trees Put 'em in a tree museum And they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'em Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot" Write your Mayor!
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:36 a.m.
David, wherever you live used to be natural area. Why would you participate in the destruction of important animal habitat by buying property like that? Or was it just OK up until the piece of land that became your property was carved out nature, but then after that it should stop?
uabchris
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 10:04 p.m.
So much for the Green Belt...
TommyJ
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
I'm sure that large wooded lot at the start of Glendale Circle will be a target for development next. Too bad, that's a nice area and it would be nice to keep some of the open and/or natural areas.
David Kitchens
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 5:17 p.m.
I grew up in the 312 house and have lived in the 314 home as well. The entire property used to belong to Hillside Terrace which my father ran for 35 years. The two homes were built by a local architect by the name of VanElls I believe many years ago. The original blueprints were in a drawer in the basement when we first moved in back in 1969. After my father retired, Hillside Terrace was sold to the current owners and the 312 house was rented out to students. In my opinion this was a big mistake, what used to be a glorious old home now became party central with lights and volleyball in the front yard. The home quickly deteriorated and became just another student home. I pass by it often and am sad that it is no longer the beautiful home I grew up in. The orchard was a great place to play as a kid and to consume it for another housing development is just wrong. This project should be blocked, it is not a good fit for the neighborhood.
JAM2
Thu, Jan 10, 2013 : 3:57 a.m.
David, you are wrong on many fronts...for the last 8 years the home has been occupied by several good, hardworking young men who have contributed to our community in ways you won't appreciate. they are entrepreneurs, known chefs, talented servers and artists. And most importantly, it should be noted, they would NEVER have a volleyball court in front of their house...instead they have a regulation badminton court - a game of gentleman for sure...(and i'm unclear why outdoor lights by which we would play badminton at night in the summer are so egregious).
George K
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
I am only disappointed because I live nearby, and I like to use the large field. I guess they're going to fill the open space with condos... oh well it was gonna happen some day... Maybe they make a computer simulation for this, so my dogs and I can pretend we're playing fetch across a nice green field.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 3:08 p.m.
That orchard used to be a township island. I wonder if it has ever been brought into the city?
Ben Freed
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Sorry about the broken link, this should work: http://bit.ly/UKOEjS
Ben Freed
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Stephen, According to a map on the city website (http://www.a2gov.org/GIS/Documents/Potential%20Annexations/Sct0930.pdf) the property has been part of Ann Arbor at least since 2007. Ben
LXIX
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:35 p.m.
I see both "16-unit multi-family condominium complex" and "apartments completed by the end of the year". Which is it? Owner condos or landlord rentals? Every new person added to the city roles ultimately costs more for the city to maintain. That in turn requires an increase in taxes or a decline in services. Or (as is now happening) both. The natural beauty is often degraded, money flows out to foreign investors, and street congestion thickens. But hey, those who say 'Build baby build' probably don't have to 'Pay baby pay'.
Linda Peck
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
That "unused lot" is a beautiful old orchard that those of us who walk in the neighborhood enjoy. It will be sad to see that open space with old apple trees fall. It is directly across from a very nice senior complex. They will be enduring a long construction event, too, if this happens. Still, it is private property and certainly can be sold. I hope the complex, if it passes approval, will be attractive and fit into the neighborhood.
regularjoe
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
Pretty sure the owner of the strip of land also own Hill side Terrace. People have been cutting through the back of Hillside Terrace to access Charlton for years. Maybe you should go to the citizen participation meeting and ask the developers.
RLB
Sun, Jan 13, 2013 : 4:52 p.m.
Hillside Terrace was bought by a New York company, and this lot with the 2 rentals, as well as another house next to Hillside on Jackson was sold to Starman. Since then the two houses on this lot have decayed. I have no reason to believe the same won't happen with the apartments that Starman is wanting to put up. As they decay, just drop the rent to keep them filled. Meanwhile, the several homes on Glendale facing The Orchard that are either currently having major renovations, or already have within the past 10 years, will have their property values drop.
foobar417
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Is there any chance this development could include a non-motorized trail linking Glendale and one of the streets west of Jackson Place? (Not exactly clear what might line up.) Doing so would make it much easier to walk or bike from Stadium to downtown while staying off busy roads.
George K
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.
Right, there is a nice, paved, walking/biking trail through the woods that I use every day to get between Glendale and Fair St. I'm gonna miss the orchard though...
aanative
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
You mean in addition to the non-motorized path that already links both sides of Fair St.???
zags
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
That location is accessed from Glendale Dr, between Abbott and Charlton but is actually a large strip of land right next to Hillside Terrace Retirement Community which fronts on Jackson. Looks like it used to be an old orchard. Two bedroom ranches should fit right in with the neighborhood.
Ann English
Thu, Jan 10, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
References to an orchard from other comment posters give me the impression that this orchard, decades ago, influenced road builders to name one of the nearby streets Orchard.
Prometheus
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 12:41 p.m.
This open space and former orchard are utilized by everyone in the Glendale area neighborhood. It's a place for kids to play and dogs to run (on their leashes of course). This orchard even proved as a selling point for many of the adjacent homes. A couple of those "trees scattered around the property" have excellent perches for lazing away and are tied to many Ann Arborites' memories. I hope the residents of the neighborhood put up a major stink about this and fight, fight, fight any new development there. While Virginia Park is nice (three blocks away), this orchard is a special gem.
George K
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
Those "trees scattered around the property" are all dying and falling apart. Just come by any time after high winds and you'll see at least one tree with large branches on the ground. Whoever owns the field could take care of it better. I always assumed it was the city who owned it, but I guess not. It would be a nice spot for a public park, not more condos. I'm sure the senior citizens living nearby are going to be super happy that their view of the green space will be blocked by new development.
regularjoe
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
Make an offer on the property. I bet they would listen to any reasonable offer. It comes with 2 rental properties. You could provide a private park for all to enjoy and make money off the rentals or live there yourself.
jcj
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
Prometheus Can I come over and play in YOUR backyard? Whats that you live in an apartment?
jcj
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.
A perfect example of the mentality in this town.Let someone else pay for my enjoyment!
Unusual Suspect
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Should have bought it
Nick Danger
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
Perfect for those of us who are retired and downsizing.Plus more jobs in Ann Arbor
Bcar
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 11:47 a.m.
UGH! we dont need more of these multi family units!
alan
Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.
Because?