Arbor Update

Public Forum: Fifth and Division Improvement Project

Posted by Nancy Shore on 12 May 2008

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has spent several years studying ways to accommodate traffic demands along Fifth Avenue and Division Street while also addressing community needs for sustainable transportation.

The DDA has developed a comprehensive improvement plan for the two corridors. You can read more about the plan here

The plan calls for adding bike lanes and parking on Fifth Ave. and Division Street in order to enhance conditions for pedestrians and cyclists while also offering parking spaces for cars. There are also other proposed enhancements.

The DDA is interested in hearing public feedback about the proposed Fifth and Division improvements plan as a first step before bringing a recommendation before Ann Arbor City Council to move ahead with this project.

Here are the details:
Fifth and Division Public Hearing
May 14, 7pm, City Council Chambers, 100 N. Fifth Avenue, Second Floor

If you have any sort of opinion about this project, please come and voice your views.

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Electronics Recycling Event, May 10

Posted by Juliew on 9 May 2008

The University and the Ann Arbor Public Schools are sponsoring a free joint home electronics recycling event tomorrow, Saturday, May 10. This is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to bring their old electronic devices. There is a long list of accepted items from TVs to cell phones and even cables. Check your attics, basements, and storage lockers for any out-of-date electronic equipment and bring it on down.

The equipment is all shredded and recycled. Nothing is resold or shipped out of the country or dumped, so it is a great opportunity to recycle in an actually environmentally friendly way. Plus it is free!

Note: This is only Saturday (May 10) from 9:00am – 2:00pm so don’t be late!
Pioneer High School Parking Lot (Main Street Entrance)
610 West Stadium Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI
For more information, see the Climate Savers web site.

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getDowntown Events This Week

Posted by Juliew on 7 May 2008

I wanted to highlight two events being put on by the getDowntown program this week as part of Curb Your Car Month.

The first is a forum called Same Roads, Same Rules? sponsored by the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition. This is tonight (Wednesday, May 7) at 7:00pm in the Downtown Development Authority Conference Room (150 S. Fifth Avenue, Suite 301). This public forum will focus on car/bike coexistence on the roads of Ann Arbor and how engineering solutions alone may not be sufficient to address them.

The second event is a panel discussion on real-life sustainable commuting tomorrow (Thursday, May 8) at the Ann Arbor District Library from 7:00 to 8:30pm. Join local commuting celebrities Ed Vielmetti, Scott Munzel (a local Attorney), Tamara Real (Arts Alliance) and Alaine Karoleff (Inner Circle Media) as they talk about their commutes: what methods they use, challenges and surprises they encounter, and most of all, how using a sustainable mode of transportation helps them “get more” out of their commute. Time will be left over for the folks in the audience to share their stories.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

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School Elections, Tuesday May 6

Posted by Juliew on 5 May 2008

Don’t forget to vote this Tuesday (May 6) in the School elections! This election has all the drama and impact of a national election, except in the School Board elections you actually get to vote for all the candidates and your individual vote can make a big difference.

School Board Trustees
Interested in an election featuring a young man with little political background but who is interested in change vs. an older, established woman with a long history of political activism? If so, the Ann Arbor School Board election is just your thing!

A2 News write-up on the two school-board candidates.
Michigan Daily article on Adam Hollier.

Library Trustees
Yes, there are five candidates, but there are five open positions so don’t stay up late trying to figure out who is going to get your vote. Thanks to Ed Vielmetti for posting this link.

Millage Proposals
I think The proposals will be labeled Proposal B and Proposal C.

Text of the proposals is here.
First ballot proposal asks for continuation of two operating millages (Proposal B ? ). Second is continuation of sinking fund millage (Proposal C ? ).

Ann Arbor Public Schools official web site regarding the millages.

Ann Arbor News proposal endorsement.

Editorial related to millages.

General Voter Information is here and here.

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City Council: Chicken Redux

Posted by Juliew on 4 May 2008

Monday, May 5 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Amendment to City Code giving pedestrians the right of way in marked crosswalks
• Proposed 2008-2009 budget and property tax millage rates
• Reconsideration of backyard chicken ordinances
• Allocation of HOME funds for several projects
• Approval of contract and agreement for upgrades to the Ann Arbor Airport
• Liquor license transfers (from Romanoff’s Hall & Catering Service Inc. to Ann Arbor Lodging, L.L.C. and from escrow to Bagger Dave’s Legendary Burgers & Fries)

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Main Street Moonlight Delight Tonight, May 2

Posted by Juliew on 2 May 2008

Yeah, OK, the name is dorky (whatever happened to Midnight Madness?). The idea is great though. Head down to the Main Street Area tonight and shop to your heart’s content. Most stores are having big sales and many are offering refreshments and other specials. The Main Street Area Association has more information on their web site. Don’t forget the stores just off Main Street. Places on Fourth, Liberty, and Ashley will be open late too.

So make plans for dinner and drinks downtown and then walk off your meal by doing some shopping. This would be a good time to buy any Mom in your life a special Mother’s Day gift!

Don’t let a little rain forecast stop you, all the stores and restaurants will be nice and dry and lots of them sell umbrellas and other rain gear.

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Leopold's Farewell Event

Posted by Dale Winling on 1 May 2008

For those of you who have quaffed beer, shot pool, flipped through the jukebox, and sipped the spirits at Leopold Brothers over the last decade, there’s a chance for an awesome farewell, headlined by the Great Lakes Myth Society, before the city’s best brewery, pub, and distillery closes.

If you’re not there, you better be in jail. If you’re in jail, break out.

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Downtown Zoning & Design Public Open Houses

Posted by Juliew on 30 April 2008

Thursday, May 1
3:30 to 5:00pm and 6:30-8:00pm
Kerrytown Concert House (415 North Fourth Avenue)

Two public open houses on proposed amendments to the Downtown Plan and city ordinances will be held on Thursday, May 1 at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Avenue. The first session will be from 3:30 to 5:00pm and the second from 6:30 to 8:00pm (the sessions are the same so you only need to attend one).

Each session will start with a short presentation on the proposed zoning map and ordinance changes, followed by informal meetings with staff on elements of the proposal, including: Downtown Plan amendments, new downtown zoning districts, rezoning of downtown properties, proposed design review process, and draft design guidelines.

Opportunities for comment will be provided at these meetings. See the Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown (A2D2) website for details of the proposals and other commend opportunities. For questions, contact Wendy Rampson at 734.994.2802, email wrampson at a2gov org.

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Public Forum: Proposed Court-Police Facility

Posted by Juliew on 27 April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 6:30pm – 8pm
City Hall, second floor City Council Chambers

Project architects and designers will review the revised design, discuss the project status, and answer questions.

For more information, see the project update page.

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UM Commencement, Saturday April 26

Posted by Juliew on 24 April 2008

The University’s 2008 Commencement will be this Saturday, April 26 in front of the Graduate Library on the Diag on central campus. Normally, the graduation ceremony is in the Stadium and really doesn’t present much of a logistical challenge because the venue is already set up. Not so this year. Extensive work has been done on the Diag and Central Campus to make it ready for the influx of 30,000 attendees. Flooring was laid across the whole Diag, 30,000 chairs have been set up, stages are in place, and huge audio and video setups are going up. It is something to see.

There will be shuttles from outlying parking lots and hotels, but be aware that parking downtown on Saturday will be extremely tight. All University parking structures will be open to graduation attendees and City structures will have a $5 up-front fee rather than hourly rate. The procession of graduates begins at 9:00am followed by the formal program at 10:00am. Admission to the Diag and nearby University buildings will be controlled to a large extent so don’t expect to be able to just saunter on by to see how it is going Saturday morning. If you have a ticket, I recommend getting there early or you will end up sitting behind a tree.

For more information, see the University Record article.

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