Editorial: Ann Arbor should approve Zingerman's expansion, even if it requires demolishing houses

Now, Zingerman’s is trying again. Its newest plan takes pains to address concerns that derailed its first effort two years ago. Its proposal is constructive and clearly offers “significant benefit’’ to the community - a term that matters greatly in the abstruse world of historic preservation.

The people of Ann Arbor are solidly behind this proposal, and we endorse it as well. If reason and good public policy prevail, Zingerman’s should be granted the expansion, and it shouldn’t have to tie itself in a knot in the process.

By the end of this month, Zingerman’s plans to submit to the Planning Commission a proposal for a 9,500-square-foot, two-story addition to its cramped deli at the corner of Kingsley and Detroit streets. The existing building would continue to be retail space, while the addition would create new kitchen and food preparation areas, as well as additional seating.

It also would resolve problems with the current kitchen, which creates humidity that is damaging the existing building, which is a historic structure. That’s ironic, since concerns about historic preservation are what’s held up the expansion so far.

To build the addition, Zingerman’s wants to tear down a boarded-up historic home at 322 E. Kingsley. Originally, it also wanted to raze a second historic building at 420 Detroit St., known as the Annex. But its new plan would preserve the second house and incorporate it into the addition - at a hefty additional cost of $750,000.

In 2008, the Historic District Commission rejected Zingerman’s request to demolish both buildings, finding them to be “contributing,’’ meaning that they add to the historic quality of the district. That’s a particularly dubious conclusion to draw about 322 Kingsley, which the commission spared by a 4-3 vote two years ago. Another business owner in the area recently described it as an “eyesore.’’ We agree.

Despite its decision two years ago, the commission still could allow demolition of the Kingsley Street building, or even both buildings, if it finds that Zingerman’s expansion would offer significant benefit to the community and Zingerman’s has all the necessary approvals from the city. Or if it could find that retaining either or both houses is ‘’not in the interest of the majority of the community,’’ as described in the city code.

In 2008, Zingerman’s went directly to the Historic District Commission and was shot down. This time, it is going to the city first to seek the necessary approvals that would give it a stronger case before the commission. That’s a smart move, as is the revision in the plan that preserves the Annex, though it’s evident that Zingerman’s would still prefer to remove both houses, and it deserves that consideration.

We are not cavalier about historic preservation. It shouldn’t be easy to tear down historic buildings. But it also shouldn’t be impossible, if the buildings are of questionable historic value and the project to replace them has substantial merit, as this one does.

A recent poll on AnnArbor.com asked if readers support Zingerman’s efforts to expand. Some 2,000 people voted and more than 90 percent said “yes.’’ While we do not present our polls as scientific, it is clear that the community overwhelmingly sees the benefits of Zingerman’s proposal and wants it to happen.

Like the University of Michigan, Zingerman’s is a renowned entity that helps give Ann Arbor a national reputation. This expansion plan is reasonable and makes good sense. The same should be true of the decisions made about it.