City OKs expansion of retail space next to Dollar Tree on Washtenaw
The shopping center at Washtenaw and Yost on Ann Arbor's east side, where new retail space will be added next to the Dollar Tree store.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor City Council gave approval last week for Renken Associates, the owner of the center, to expand it by adding 9,500 square feet to its eastern end.
The location - which borders Yost Boulevard - formerly was an outdoor sales area for Franks Nursery, which closed several years ago.
Since then, the Dollar Tree took over the 15,000-square-foot store area, but didn't use the outdoor area. It's been fenced and vacant.
Now, with the city approvals, Renken said he's "taking the next steps" toward construction. That includes marketing the space for tenants, which he said already have expressed interest.
The addition had been planned as part of a $3 million upgrade to Renken's center, which extends west to Pittsfield Boulevard. Initial plans called for additional store space to be added where walkways now exist between several buildings.
Instead, the plan was split into phases. The city approval only affects the addition of the two store spaces
According to the site plan summary, the developer will add a new public sidewalk in the Yost Boulevard right-of-way fronting the site. He also will "convert the existing 22-foot service drive on the north part of the site from pavement to turf and construct a new 10-foot wide non-motorized path. "
Council approved the expansion unanimously.
From the City of Ann Arbor
Comments
LBH
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
I believe I read earlier that all the current tenants are staying and that the mall is currently fully leased. The new space will be the old Frank's outdoor nursery space and the gap between, I believe, the framing store and the resale shop. Jos A Banks was just added at Arborland recently, but there are still a couple of large spaces over there without tenants. It wasn't Borders who shooed the buses out of Arborland, it was the landlord. Seems like a bad move since many folks, myself included, used to get off the bus there and zip into Hiller's to pick up groceries before heading home.
treetowncartel
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
This might push the Christmas tree guys out, but that would be good news for Leverett's, the best place to get a tree in the County. On a side, any idea when the Village Pub is opening its doors for business?
LBH
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
Haven't heard about Village Pub in a while. Just saw that Edible Arrangements is going into the old KiKut place. That is cool.
Paula Gardner
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
I've been wondering about the Village Pub, too. My colleagues tried to contact them when the sign first went up - with no luck. I noticed they're hiring now. We'll try again.
jns131
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
I am so thrilled to hear that this space is going to become more retail space. That part since Franks left looked so yuck and run down. This will add flair to a nice strip mall. Now, are they ever going to give space for buses so we don't have to wait behind him them on Washtenaw? Or will Arborland give them their space back since Borders is no longer around?
Veracity
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
The Renken retail expansion appears to be speculative since clients are not identified and no pre-occupancy leases have been signed. Although I am certainly in favor of expanding retail stores in Ann Arbor I worry that creating new retail space on speculation during the recession will only increase the commercial vacancy rate. Already excess commercial space exists across the street where Borders and Circuit City once occupied considerable footage in Arborland. Further west the old Hollywood Video and neighboring stores remain vacant. Empty stores do not enhance the appearance along Ann Arbor's major throughway nor will they support TIF payments to the city.
Veracity
Thu, Oct 13, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
Andy: No one can stop the owners of private property from building as long as construction meets city ordinances. However, overall commercial vacancy rates remain undesirably elevated and evidence of excess commercial space is apparent across the street and down the block from Dollar Tree. If the property owner and developer knew what business will occupy his newly constructed building then I am sure that the information would be disclosed. Without divulging any knowledge of commercial interest in the property safely assume that the property is being developed on speculation. In this economic climate new commercial space built on speculation carries a high risk of vacancy. snapshot: Can the empty space that once was Borders across the street be seen from Dollar Tree? I guess you think that if the building next to Dollar Tree is not vacant then no vacancy problem exists. Likewise, I suppose, if your neighbors on either side of your house have jobs then you think that this country does not have an unemployment problem.
snapshot
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 : 4:45 a.m.
Veracity, You couldn't be anymore wrong because there are no vacant stores in this center.
Andy
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
Whatever happened to the idea of property rights? Let the owner do what he wants with his land. I'm willing to accept some degree of vacancy in commercial real estate if means less micro-managing of business owners by the city.