Arbor Update

Local

What's up with Upland Green?

Posted by Bruce Fields on 25. November 2007

Arbor Update regular David Cahill says of the Upland Green project, at Plymouth and Upland, "Although the project has been started, no work has been done on it for several months. It's just sitting there half-done."

Anyone know what's up?

Comment [18]

City Council

City Council: Unposted Edition

Posted by Juliew on 18. November 2007

Monday, November 19 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda will be here if posted.

Apparently, the City has not been able to update their website since Wednesday. So I have posted all the agenda items for Monday’s meeting as it is not currently available online. Thanks to Sabra Briere for sending this agenda so it can be posted.

For the full agenda, click on “Read More.”

Comment [16] • Read More »

Local

Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony

Posted by Juliew on 15. November 2007

Friday, November 16 at 6:00pm
Liberty Plaza (on the corner of Liberty and Division)

There is a full slate of entertainment, including the Boy Choir of Ann Arbor, Colors the Clown, jugglers, the Theatrical Combat Network, and the Mayor.

In case the entertainment alone isn’t enough to get you downtown, there will be hot chocolate and cookies and special guest getDowntown will be giving out “FREE spiffy Nite Ize LED lights from Bivouac as well as Google Blinky pins to everyone who shows their go!pass.” (Even if you don’t have a go!pass, you can still win prizes by taking a short quiz.)

The tree lights downtown are sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority, the Main Street Area Association, the State Street Area Association, the South University Area Association and the Kerrytown District Association.

Comment [10]

Local

Ann Arbor City Apartments Public Meeting

Posted by Juliew on 9. November 2007

Friday, November 9 at 6:00pm in Council Chambers

Notice of a public meeting to discuss the Ann Arbor City Apartments has been posted on the City’s web site. This is the development proposed for the corner of First and Washington where the parking structure used to be. It is currently a surface parking lot. The proposal includes 146 new apartments and 241 parking spaces.

Comment [3]

Local

Vote this Tuesday, November 6

Posted by Juliew on 5. November 2007

Ward 2, this one’s for you. You actually have a choice between two candidates: incumbent Stephen Rapundalo and challenger Ed Amonsen.

All other wards are uncontested and because last minute write-in votes are no longer allowed, they will remain uncontested. The polls will all be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm so stop by, cast your vote, admire the new accessible voting machines, and say “Hi” to your local poll workers. I don’t know what the rules are (Larry, can you help?), but I’m thinking they wouldn’t mind some snacks, flowers, or a cool magazine or two to read while sitting for what will surely be a long, slow day.

Be aware that you must now show photo identification to vote. For more information (and any exceptions), see the following document.

Other parts of Washtenaw County will see a bit more excitement on Tuesday with contested elections in Chelsea, Milan, Saline, and South Lyon. Ypsilanti residents will be voting on a much-discussed City Income Tax.

Comment [56]

City Council

City Council: deLights are Goin' on

Posted by Juliew on 5. November 2007

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

Highlights:

• Resolution authorizing street closing for deLights are Goin’ on Downtown special event on Friday, November 16, 2007.

• Resolution to approve a project milestone extension to the Option Agreement for the Purchase of Land at 350 S. Fifth Avenue (the old Y).

• Resolution to establish preserve areas within the City Park System.

• Communications from DDA (approval of a provision for additional parking spaces for William Street Station and Ann Arbor Hotel to enable these projects to meet zoning requirements and assistance to Zaragon Place for creation of a pedestrian walkway during construction).

• Resolution requesting the DDA prepare a written recommendation for the construction of an underground parking garage on the city-owned South Fifth Avenue parking lot (per David Cahill but not on the agenda).

Comment [31]

Wayfinding Designs 2

Posted by Dale Winling on 1. November 2007

After a few events, participants in the downtown wayfinding design charrettes have been submitting designs.

Would these help you get around downtown? Do they make you want to go places? Stop by the Ann Arbor Public Library Thursday and Friday, where these will be on display and available for scrutiny. Feel free to share your comments here, as well.
UPDATE: The DDA and consensus choice here which will go before the DDA.

UPDATE: Another set of entries after the cut…

Comment [15] • Read More »

Local

Keeping up with the McKinleys

Posted by Juliew on 30. October 2007

The owner of 607 E. William Street (currently College Shoe Repair and Hockey Equip.): is looking for a long-term lease with a national tenant. $35/square foot.

Comment [24]

Local

Parking Spaces Available

Posted by Juliew on 28. October 2007

There have been some great improvements lately in the downtown area. (I assumed the DDA was doing most of them, but I don’t see anything on their web site).

Of course, we have all heard about the LED traffic street lights. Now there are new bicycle racks on many downtown streets. The crosswalk lights in the Main Street area have countdown timers. And finally, finally, all the parking structures now have these nifty “Parking Spaces Available” signs.

Comment [12]

Culture

Ann Arbor Film Festival sells their pride, raises cash

Posted by Murph on 27. October 2007

The Ann Arbor Film Festival is attempting to raise $75,000 in three months (currently in month 2) in their Endangered campaign. The funds are needed to help the Festival do their thing, after the loss of State cultural funding and the demands of their freedom of speech lawsuit.

As fundraising goals are met, Festival staffers will perform “Acts of Audacity” in thanks, with every donation giving you a vote from a slate of three proposed Acts, meaning that your donation gives you both high culture later and cheap thrills now.

Appropriately enough, all of this information and more is available on YouTube:

Since the Festival met their first month’s fundraising goal, the first Act of Audacity, Glam Rock Karaoke, is also YouTubed for your viewing pleasure.

Comment [4]