Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

U of M students occupy Coleman's office to protest sweatshop labor

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 2. April 2007

We’ve just gotten word about a sit-in at the University of Michigan. Here’s the announcement:

At this very moment, students have taken over Mary Sue Coleman’s office, demanding that U – M cease the use of sweatshop labor. They will not leave until the president agrees to adopt the Designated Suppliers Program, a plan which would allow the University to go sweat-free while continuing to be a top manufacturer of college apparel.

Come show your support of these 11 students, who are risking arrest to help make this a sweat-free campus. There will be a RALLY at NOON at the CUBE calling for an end to U – M sweatshops.

If you want to help out right now, you can call the President’s office and ask that she adopt the DSP. The number to call is (734)764-6270. Call once, call twice, call 50 times! For more information, go to www.uofmsitin.com.

See you at the cube at noon!

Alex

Comment [6]

The Daily Demonstration One Year Anniversary

Posted by MarkDilley on 1. April 2007

Monday 02-Apr-2007 is the one year anniversary of the Daily Demo, 5-6pm, Liberty & 5th, Ann Arbor.

You are welcome to attend Monday through Friday, 5pm to 6pm.

Comment [14]

Fun Things to do on April 1

Posted by Juliew on 1. April 2007

Bored and looking for something to do on this dreary beautiful April Sunday? Check out some of the following events going on around Ann Arbor today:

  • The 35th annual Dance for Mother Earth Pow Wow continues today with the Grand Entry at noon. If you have never been, it is really worth it. Wonderful music, dancing, art, costumes, and food, plus a great way to learn about some of the traditions of the Native American culture.
  • Festifools. The Street Theater Art (START) Project has brought together people from across the community to create a fantastic show of enormous street puppets, inventive musical instruments, expressive choreography and resourceful costumes. The main event is the “First Fools at 4” street parade today at 4:00 pm on Main Street downtown. It should be quite a show!
  • Pops in Paris. Tonight at 7:00 pm at the Michigan Theater, the Michigan Pops Orchestra will perform what should be an exciting and entertaining show. Highlights include music from Beauty and the Beast, Moulin Rouge, and Les Miserables; The Can Can; Saint-Saens’ Danse Bacchanale; and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. There is nothing better than Paris in April!

Comment [3]

Public Parking Workshop, March 29

Posted by Juliew on 28. March 2007

The City of Ann Arbor is holding a public workshop to discuss downtown access and parking issues on Thursday, March 29 from 6pm to 8pm in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall. The meeting is an open house format, which will allow attendees to participate and interact with project team members. The goal is to find perceptions of access to downtown, transportation priorities, how parking can be managed to support the community’s overall goals and objectives, and give input on what best practices from around the world could be applied in Ann Arbor

This meeting is part of the second phase of the City’s efforts to establish a long-term parking strategy as part of the A2D2 project.

In addition to the public open house on Wednesday, there will be a work session at the Ann Arbor Downtown Library today, March 28 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm with Ann Arbor’s transportation policy makers, including City Council, Planning Commission, DDA, and AATA, to obtain input and direction on the parking study. The public is welcome to attend and observe this meeting as well as attend and participate at the public open house on March 29.

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Severe Weather Test Drill

Posted by Juliew on 28. March 2007

A statewide test tornado drill will be held today; Wednesday, March 28 between 11am and noon. Test tornado warnings and test severe weather warning statements will be issued from the five National Weather Service offices serving Michigan. These tests will cover all counties in Michigan. The warnings will be sent out on NOAA weather radio.

These tests are part of Michigan’s severe weather awareness week.

Comment [2]

City Council to Take Up Peace Resolution

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 19. March 2007

On Ron Suarez’s blog there is notice of a resolution that the City Council may take up to push Congress for an end to the war in Iraq. Michigan Peacworks is heading the charge, with support from groups like the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice and Veterans for Peace.
The main question around this resolution seems to be, “Is this a local issue?” According to the National Priorities Center, Ann Arbor Taxpayers have paid over $129 million for the war in Iraq.

Comment [4]

City Council: Indefinite Delay

Posted by Juliew on 19. March 2007

Monday, March 19 at 7:00 pm
Ann Arbor City HallCity Council Agenda

Highlights:

  • Historic Preservation Code (again).
  • Request to Reconsider Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Quinn Evans Architects for the Planning and Design of the Ann Arbor Municipal Center and Establish a Project Budget for the Police/Courts Building.
  • Resolution Authorizing an Indefinite Delay in the Submittal of the Request for Proposals for the Sale and Redevelopment of the S. Ashley (Kline lot) Site.
  • Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Winter & Company/RACESTUDIO ($103,735.00) and Establish a Project Budget for the Urban Design Guidelines Project.
  • Resolution to Approve Citi Centre Lofts (Washington Terrace) Revisions.

Comment [1]

AATA Executive Director Resigns

Posted by Murph on 16. March 2007

An AATA press release this morning reads,

ANN ARBOR, MI – Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) Executive Director/CEO Greg Cook has informed AATA Board Chair David Nacht and Board Personnel Committee Chair Paul Ajegba of his intent to submit his resignation.

Nacht has announced that Assistant Executive Director Dawn Gabay will assume the duties of the executive director in the interim until a new director is found.

Gabay has 32 years of experience with AATA, including previous experience as interim executive director.

Nacht said, “AATA will continue to thrive and continue to grow under Ms. Gabay’s direction. We thank Greg Cook for his years of service and commitment to AATA and the community.”

The News reports that Cook’s resignation was spurred by questions over use of an AATA credit card. “‘At that time, I thought I had paid,’ Cook said. ‘I said that I flat blew it.’”

In better AATA-related news, the agency was just awarded Federal CMAQ money to purchase 27 hybrid diesel-electric buses over the next 2 years.

Home prices slump - but downtown projects move forward

Posted by Murph on 15. March 2007

While yesterday’s News cited an Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors report stating that home sale prices countywide had hit a six year low, today’s Ann Arbor Business Review includes a March 21 groundbreaking for Peter Allen’s Kingsley Lane project, and notes that Freed plans to move forward on its CitiCentre Lofts project at Washington and Division, albeit with a change from condos to apartments.

On home prices,

The average home sale price last month was $217,294, down from $252,652 a year ago. The median sale price was $192,500, down from $206,000. A total of 230 homes and condominiums were sold last month, compared to 251 a year ago. The last time prices were that low was April 2001. . .[but] agents caution against putting too much stock in last month’s results. February’s price dip, while dramatic, could be the result of factors such as knee-jerk reaction to Pfizer’s January announcement that it will close its Ann Arbor facilities – some agents think that scared a few sellers into dropping prices. More lower-priced homes may have also sold during the month.

Kingsley Lane (pictured) has hit presale targets for one of the two buildings, and Allen intends occupancy for summer 2008.

Sales commitments total 10 for the 20-unit building that will start construction this month, and 12 for the east loft, Allen said. Six are market rate units and six are affordable.

Buyers are mostly affiliated with the University of Michigan, Allen said, either in medical school or pursuing doctorate degrees. A few are in the 45-55 age range.

Meanwhile, Freed is converting the CitiCentre project to a rental arrangement:

Freed officials have said that they planned to proceed with CitiCentre, even as they erect steel for Ashley Terrace, a similar project about four blocks west. The new configuration will have 106 apartments, 77 parking spaces, a laundry and fitness center on the 10th floor and a second-floor leasing office. The Illinois-based Freed will appear before City Council on March 19 to get new elevations of the building approved.

Freed declined comment on whether residents would take the elevator to the 10th floor fitness center.

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Allen Creek Stormwater Improvement Meeting (Tuesday, March 13)

Posted by Juliew on 13. March 2007

On Tuesday, March 13 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, there will be a public meeting on stormwater improvements in the Allen Creek watershed. The meeting will take place in the multi-purpose room at Bach School. The public is strongly encouraged to come to this meeting and give input.

The Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner, the Huron River Watershed Council, the City of Ann Arbor, Friends of West Park, IMBYs, and others are involved in this effort to identify storm water treatment options in hopes of preventing flooding and to improve the water quality of the creek. Rain gardens, porous pavement, rain meadows, and rain barrels are among the many possible options. Some of the potential improvement sites include Pioneer High School, Elbel Field, Spring factory building by Chrysler, Eberwhite School, West Park, city and DDA-owned property, and other sites in the Allen Creek basin.

News article here.

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