Library Lot : All posts

Outdoor skating rink proposal for Library Lot stalls as Ann Arbor DDA asks for more details

Progress on a proposed outdoor skating rink that would use a portion of the Library Lot in downtown Ann Arbor has stalled after officials have called for more concrete details before considering funding approval.

with poll: An outdoor skating rink in downtown Ann Arbor? While group pushes idea, mayor pushes back

The city-owned Library Lot on Fifth Avenue in downtown Ann Arbor, as viewed from the downtown library, where Alan Haber and others want to see an outdoor skating rink happen yet this winter.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

More specifically, what about an outdoor ice skating rink? What about a Spring Party in March? What about an Earth Day festival in April? What about another block party in July?

Those are all ideas longtime community activist Alan Haber is asking members of the Ann Arbor City Council and the Downtown Development Authority to consider.

New hotel and conference center idea re-emerges for downtown Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor DDA presented this revised plan for redeveloping five city-owned properties during a special City Council work session Monday night. On the Kline Lot (yellow), the plan recommends a medium-density, mixed-use development with a residential focus and an active ground-floor use. On the Palio Lot (orange), the plan recommends a medium-density, mixed-use development with an office focus. On the Library Lot and Y Lot (blue), the plan recommends high-density, mixed-use development with a lodging or office focus. The plan recommends and active ground-floor use for all five sites, the fifth one being the ground floor of the Fourth and William parking garage, which could be retrofitted.

SmithGroupJJR

A longstanding debate about whether downtown Ann Arbor needs a new hotel and conference center re-emerged Monday night during a special City Council work session.

The topic came up when representatives from the Downtown Development Authority presented a new plan for encouraging private redevelopment of five city-owned properties downtown.

Ann Arbor DDA lays out plan to make 2 downtown properties a package deal for redevelopment

The Ann Arbor DDA presented this revised plan for redeveloping five city-owned properties during a special City Council work session Monday night. On the Kline Lot (yellow), the plan recommends a medium-density, mixed-use development with a residential focus and an active ground-floor use. On the Palio Lot (orange), the plan recommends a medium-density, mixed-use development with an office focus. On the Library Lot and Y Lot (blue), the plan recommends high-density, mixed-use development with a lodging or office focus. The plan recommends and active ground-floor use for all five sites, the fifth one being the ground floor of the Fourth and William parking garage, which could be retrofitted.

SmithGroupJJR

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's plan for encouraging private redevelopment of city-owned properties drew mixed reactions from the City Council Monday night.

DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay appeared alongside DDA board members and Todd Poole, a land use consultant hired by the DDA, during a special council work session.

Ann Arbor DDA in final stages of Connecting William Street plan for five downtown properties

The Library Lot atop the city of Ann Arbor's new underground parking garage off Fifth Avenue (as viewed from the fourth floor of the Ann Arbor District Library next door) is one of five city-owned properties downtown that are being positioned for redevelopment as part of the Connecting William Street initiative, which the Ann Arbor DDA is wrapping up after a year of work.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

A draft framework will be presented at the Downtown Development Authority's meeting on Wednesday, and included will be a recommendation to put the former YMCA property at the corner of Fifth Avenue and William Street up for sale first, said DDA Director Susan Pollay.

Q&A: Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje: 'We're starting to get that critical mass of people living downtown'

As downtown Ann Arbor continues to grow and city officials try to strike a balance between new development and open space, Mayor John Hieftje says he and other city officials have been eyeing the Palio Lot at the corner of Main and William as a potential location for a new public plaza. "I think there's some potential on the Palio Lot, and I've been walking around with a couple of council members and we're beginning to think about a little line of park plazas. You've got Liberty Plaza, you'll have one on top of the parking structure, and then you can have one over at the Palio Lot, or a different configuration."

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

• Related story: Top 5: Questions Ann Arbor should consider about impact of downtown redevelopment

With hundreds of new apartments bringing literally thousands of new bedrooms to downtown Ann Arbor, there are more people than ever living the downtown experience.

Housing options downtown now range from single-family historic homes to modern condos, renovated lofts and the latest trend — high-rises geared toward University of Michigan students.

Up to 400 new residents, 900 jobs envisioned with redevelopment of 5 downtown Ann Arbor sites

The Library Lot, atop where the city just built a new underground parking garage, is one of five nearby sites the Ann Arbor DDA is looking at for redevelopment opportunities.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

If the city were to go forward with the highest-density scenario — including a mix of residential, business and cultural uses — the DDA predicts there could be 350 to 400 new residents downtown, bringing $7.5 million to $8 million in new annual spending to the local economy.

with gallery : Proponents of library lot green space hold block party

Previous story: Unclear if Library Lane underground parking garage will open in time for Art Fair

Members of the Library Green Conservancy want people to come out to the new underground parking structure next to the Ann Arbor Public Library this afternoon and "Imagine a Park."

That's what they're calling the block party to promote the idea of creating a downtown park on the Library Lane parking structure.

2nd Ward Ann Arbor City Council candidates differ on what should go atop Library Lot

Ann Arbor City Council Member Tony Derezinski and his opponent, Sally Hart Petersen, chat amicably following a debate Tuesday night at CTN studios.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Incumbent Tony Derezinski holds a master of laws degree from the prestigious Ivy League school, while his opponent, Sally Hart Petersen, holds an MBA from there.

with video: Group using YouTube video to make case for central park in downtown Ann Arbor

Supporters of the vision for a central park in Ann Arbor are circulating a 10-minute promotional video stating their case for more green space downtown.

Ann Arbor resident Will Hathaway, one of the leaders of the Library Green group, uploaded the video to YouTube to make the argument that city officials have two choices for the city-owned site atop a new underground parking structure downtown: a park or a parking lot.

with poll: Library Green group: Ann Arbor has unique opportunity to create a downtown central park

For the foreseeable future, a surface parking lot will stand atop the 700-space garage that extends four stories below ground off Fifth Avenue in downtown Ann Arbor. City officials hope to see the site redeveloped eventually, while a group of citizens want to see it become a large green space.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

But at least for the foreseeable future, a surface parking lot — a vast sea of concrete — will stand atop the 700-space garage that extends four stories below ground.

The residents rallying behind the vision for a "Library Green" call that wasted space, and they're speaking out in full force.

Ann Arbor DDA counting on $2M increase in parking revenue to get through next year

Courtesy of Ann Arbor DDA

At the same time, DDA officials are predicting a $2 million — or 12.5 percent — jump in parking revenues due to rate increases and growing demand.

DDA officials presented the authority's budget for 2012-13 during an Ann Arbor City Council work session Monday night. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

Ann Arbor DDA invites public to take survey to shape vision for four-block area downtown

Map courtesy of DDA

The survey is the first piece of outreach for the Connecting William Street initiative, which was previously known as Midtown Discovery.

The planning process is dedicated to crafting and implementing strategies to transform five city-owned parking areas into new uses: the Library Lot, Y Lot, the ground floor of the Fourth and William parking structure, Palio Lot, and the Kline Lot.

Fifth Avenue won't reopen to traffic this month after all

Many downtown Ann Arbor businesses — especially Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar, which are located here on the closed section of Fifth Avenue — have been waiting anxiously for the street to reopen. The street has been closed to traffic since September 2010.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said crews are working hard on the underground parking structure project that has kept Fifth Avenue closed, but they won’t have the street open by the end of January, which was the goal.

Increases in downtown parking rates win unanimous approval from Ann Arbor DDA

The cost of parking in downtown Ann Arbor is going up following action taken Wednesday by the Downtown Development Authority.

In a meeting that lasted a half hour, the DDA's governing board voted unanimously on a series of rate hikes that have been talked about for several months.

Some of the changes — including increases in the cost of parking in some structures and lots — take effect Jan. 21.

analysis: 5 issues that should top the city of Ann Arbor's priority list in 2012

Ann Arbor is poised for a significant transformation that might not be readily apparent to the casual observer, and 2012 could be the year that a few major initiatives get going.

Thousands of new beds are being added in and around the downtown with a wave of new housing developments, many of them catering to University of Michigan students.

That presents unique challenges and opportunities for the city, which owns several prime pieces of real estate in the downtown that are ripe for development of some kind.

And there are big talks happening around transit as the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority pushes ahead with an ambitious countywide expansion.

Workplace safety officials have investigated Library Lot project twice following incidents

Inspectors from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration have twice investigated the underground parking structure construction site in downtown Ann Arbor following incidents there, records show.

Ann Arbor DDA considering whether to hire consultant to assist in downtown planning process

The Ann Arbor City Council was presented this map in April showing parcels owned by the city downtown. The DDA is charged with coming up with a plan to develop five of them.

The overarching question that remains after today's two-hour discussion is whether the DDA should tap the expertise of paid consultants.

Ann Arbor DDA director responds to construction concerns from downtown restaurants

Susan Pollay, director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, responded today to criticisms that the DDA hasn't done enough to help restaurants that are struggling to get by as a $50 million underground parking deck takes shape on Fifth Avenue.

Here's Pollay's written response to the concerns aired by the owners of Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar at Monday night's Ann Arbor City Council meeting:

Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar owners say they're unhappy with lack of assistance from city, DDA

The owners of two downtown restaurants — Earthen Jar and Jerusalem Garden — appeared before the Ann Arbor City Council Monday night to air concerns over the massive underground parking garage being constructed next to them on Fifth Avenue.

Both said business is hurting because of the project, especially with Fifth Avenue closed, and they think they deserve some form of compensation from the city or the Downtown Development Authority. The DDA is funding the $50 million garage, which will be owned by the city, and the project is expected to continue into next spring.