The 1250 N Main building on the north side of Ann Arbor looks to be shaping up for another transition in the near future.

Local developer and founder of Peter Allen & Associates Peter Allen is preparing to turn the 2-story commercial building overlooking Argo Pond into a 4-story mixed-use structure with space for commercial on the ground floor and residential units above it. The building's structure is more than adequate to accommodate such a transformation.

"It's one of those beautiful, big, over-engineered buildings with the martini columns, like in Liberty Lofts," says Allen.

Allen purchased the 1930s building a decade ago from what was then Newman Computer Exchange and is Dexter-based ReCellular today. He redeveloped it into 14,000-square-feet for the University of Michigan School of Art & Design. The school of art has occupied the space since then and is about to extend its lease until the summer of 2011.

The X-factor is the city's proposal to significantly change zoning laws, allowing for denser, mixed-use buildings. If that passes as it is now, Allen plans to begin redeveloping the site soon after the green light is given.

Source: Peter Allen, founder of Peter Allen & Associates
Writer: Jon Zemke