Developer lays out updated plan to preserve historic Ann Arbor homes

Developer Alex de Parry outlined a brand-new vision for the City Place project tonight - one that calls for preserving a part of Ann Arbor history.

Joined by a preservation architect from Rochester Hills, the developer announced his intentions to preserve seven century-old homes that faced the wrecking ball under previous plans for the City Place apartment complex on South Fifth Avenue, just south of William Street.

"We are trying to do a project that is sensitive to historic preservation," said de Parry, president of Fifth Avenue Communities and Ann Arbor Builders Inc.

De Parry said he envisions a project in which the seven homes would undergo historic rehabilitation in tandem with the addition of two, three-story apartment buildings set behind them. Responding to concerns about parking, he announced plans to include underground parking with 1.5 spaces per unit.

Architect John Dziurman, standing side-by-side with the developer, told a small group of residents gathered at Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub he intends to help craft a plan that conforms with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Those are the criteria under which any project would be evaluated by Ann Arbor's Historic District Commission if a historic district is established in the neighborhood.

The City Council recently formed a historic district study committee that is working to determine the historic significance of the Germantown neighborhood where de Parry wants to build. The committee is expected to report back next September.

Dziurman, who was hired by de Parry about two weeks ago, assured residents he'll see to it that the project is done right. He called himself a true preservationist and said he is a longtime member of the Rochester Hills Historic Districts Commission.

"I want these to be what you see when you walk down the street," he said of the seven homes along Fifth Avenue that will be preserved. "I want you to see the homes just as they were."

Commenting on a previous street scape concept for City Place that essentially involved taking the faces of the seven houses and sticking them on a new building, Dziurman said: "I would never be a part of that personally - that's crazy."

In attendance for tonight's meeting were two members of the Germantown Neighborhood Association, which has actively opposed the project. Beverly Strassmann, president of the association, shared her group's position in a letter to de Parry before the meeting.

"We very much appreciate that you have now decided to take a more preservation-minded approach to your plans, especially in the hiring of a preservation architect," Strassmann wrote. "At this time, all indications are that an historic district is likely to be approved that will include this block of South Fifth Avenue. As such, our neighborhood group has decided that it would be premature for us to participate in any discussions about a project that could potentially weaken that new historic district."

With that, Strassmann concluded by saying she hopes de Parry follows historic rehabilitation guidelines should he press forward.

The Planned Unit Development proposal de Parry is crafting is entirely different from a by-right site plan approved by the City Council last month. City officials admitted they were stunned when de Parry pushed forward with his by-right site plan, which the City Council approved out of necessity because it conforms with the city's zoning ordinance.

De Parry said tonight his focus is on crafting the new PUD, and he plans to have updated designs complete by the end of this month.

He said the sequence of the houses would not change, though it may involve tweaking the fronts. He said the houses would basically stay in place, but he plans to rebuild the foundations and nudge some of them closer to the street.

As for the two apartment buildings proposed for the back, de Parry said he has reduced the height and massing. He said he isn't sure yet on the number of units, but he envisions mostly one- and two-bedroom apartments and possibly some three-bedroom units.

Dziurman said he talked with an official from the State Historic Preservation Office Friday and is convinced the project can be done in a way that follows historic rehabilitation guidelines. He said he understands neighbors want to maintain the "rhythm" of the street, and that can be achieved.

"What goes on back here is really the key for everybody," he said, motioning to the two buildings that would go behind the homes. "We have to be careful that it doesn't overwhelm the site."

De Parry said a landmark tree - a bur oak located near the front of the project in the public right of way - has caused him to think creatively. He said he's been told the tree is "The Ann Arbor Tree," the same one depicted in the city seal.

"I hate to say a tree is driving a lot of this, but this tree is driving a lot of it," he said of the site configuration. "I want to stay far enough away from this tree to make sure we don't damage the tree or have something happen to it."

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.