Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

"Database unavailable" messages

Posted by Murph on 5. April 2006

You may have noticed a “Database unavailable” message coming up occasionally, instead of your hoped-for ArborUpdate fix. This is a known issue with our hosting service that happens periodically for short periods of time; tech support says,

We have located mutliple users whose sites have contributed to the MySQL issues, and have taken steps to prevent their abuse to continue. Sadly this hasn’t resolved the issue entirely, and we’re continuing to work to resolve these issues. We are confident that we will not only be able to locate the source of this problem, but that our upcoming changes, which include moving MySQL to a dedicated setup, will provide the improvements and uptime we’re all looking for.

Comment [1]

Ann Arbor Democrats to Debate Building Limits

Posted by Dale Winling on 3. April 2006

The Ann Arbor Democratic Party will meet this Saturday in the Palmer Commons, part of the Life Sciences complex on the U-M campus. Old West Sider Lou Glorie has proposed a resolution calling for a four story building limit for this Saturday’s meeting of the Ann Arbor Democratic Party; Planning Commission Chair Jennifer Hall and U-M College Democrats Chair Libby Benton are sponsoring a resolution calling for suspension of Dem actions in the summer months while students are away. The full agenda is available on the Ann Arbor Dems webpage.

Arbor Update will report on AA Republican actions if notified, as well.

Comment [157] • Read More »

If We Build it, Will They Come?

Posted by Juliew on 3. April 2006

In all the flurry of potential residential building downtown, one question lingers: what is the actual market for downtown condos? With 530 or so condos and several hundred apartments proposed for downtown in the next two years and the Klines’ lot RFP still to be released, the DDA realized they needed a better idea of the actual supply and demand for condos downtown. The results of the study they commissioned can be found in the following memo: 2006_klines_phasing.pdf.

The moderate-growth scenario “indicates that in the next five years demand is unlikely to catch up with supply.” The high-growth scenario is more optimistic, with all currently proposed units being “absorbed by 2008.” This, however, assumes that no other units will become available in the intervening years. One result of the study is that the Klines’ lot RFP will not be released until next year.

More information is in this article from the Ann Arbor Business Review.

Comment [40]

Big Ten vs. BTB

Posted by Brandon on 31. March 2006

Ann Arbor food phenomenon Big Ten Burrito is being sued by the Big Ten Conference:

Last June, owners Justin Herrick and Adam Lowenstein tried to trademark the name of the local burrito joint, but the move generated legal resistance and claims of trademark infringement from the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Rather than battle the multimillion-dollar corporation in court, the owners agreed to change their name by September. The conference is responsible for the cost of new logos and signs.

Submit your ideas for a new name here.

Comment [2]

Jill Carroll Freed from Captivity

Posted by Dale Winling on 30. March 2006

Jill Carroll, the freelance reporter taken hostage in Iraq January 7th, has been freed, the New York Times reports.

“She was released this morning, she’s talked to her father and she’s fine,” said David Cook, Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor.

Carroll was kidnapped on Jan. 7 in Baghdad’s western Adil neighborhood while going to interview Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi. Her translator was killed in the attack about 300 yards from al-Dulaimi’s office.

Carroll was reporting for the Christian Science Monitor when taken hostage.

Now outdated Free Press article.

Comment [2]

Thursday: Social Justice Course Fair

Posted by Brandon on 29. March 2006

For UM students:

You say you want to change the world.
But do you know how?

SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSE FAIR
March 30, 2006
11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Diag entrance, Haven Hall
(ground floor, near the fishbowl)

Learn about exciting
opportunities to take
classes through:

Project Community
The Program on Intergroup
Relations (IGR)
Women’s Studies
The Detroit Initiative
The Global Intercultural
Experience for Undergraudates
(GIEU)
Urban and Regional Planning
Telling It

Comment [2]

Rally Against UM Sweatshops! Today 5pm

Posted by MarkDilley on 29. March 2006

Fast for Justice!
Stop Starvation Wages!
Wednesday, March 29

Join SOLE for a one day solidarity
fast with U of M Sweatshop workers
from sunup until the
5:10 RALLY
on the Steps of the Union!!!

Wear a RED ARMBAND to
show your support!

Email sole.maintain@umich.edu to sign up today!

Comment [3]

Dance Marathon Raises $326k for Hospitals

Posted by Dale Winling on 29. March 2006


A year of organization and fundraising culminated in the annual Dance Marathon Saturday and Sunday, a 30-hour dance-fest at the U-M Indoor Track Building.

• Read More »

Parking-O-Rama

Posted by Juliew on 28. March 2006

The April issue of the Observer features an article on parking downtown titled Parking is Money: Who parks downtown—and who pays? The article discusses the complicated issue of downtown parking (is there enough? too much?), the effect it has on retail and residents, and who pays or doesn’t pay for parking downtown. Following on the heels of the delivery of the Observer, the Ann Arbor News runs a front-page article today on parking and density. Poll shows support for denser downtown area: But Ann Arborites see parking as a problem is based on a poll of 300 residents commissioned by the DDA.

So how about it? Do you see parking downtown as a problem or is it fine the way it is? If you think it is a problem, what are the possible solutions (car-sharing, increased public transportation, increased downtown density)?

Comment [121]

Audio of bands playing soon, cool.

Posted by MarkDilley on 28. March 2006

Podbop

Comment [3]

Keep reading: next previous