Development News

Washtenaw County gets in on Aerotropolis Development

Concentrate Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Most people may think of Ann Arbor when someone brings up Washtenaw County. But the county is far more than just Ann Arbor. That is a major reason why the county has signed up to become part of the Aerotropolis Development Corporation.

"This will really help us redevelop the eastern side of the county," says Anthony VanDerworp, director of strategic planning for Washtenaw County. "That's the older section of the county. There are a lot of vacant buildings and factories there."

The regional corporation will develop about 60,000 acres of land from Detroit Metro Airport to Willow Run Airport. The county paid $50,000 to be part of the initiative, joining Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township, which already signed on.

The Aerotropolis is expected to create 64,000 new jobs, $10 billion in economic impact and millions in tax revenue in the area around Metro and Willow Run airports. Major economic development incentives are planned to help develop the Aerotropolis area.

Metro Airport is expected to become one of Metro Detroit's main economic engines of the 21st Century because it has lots of room to grow in the vacant or unused land around it. Most other major metro airports have already been extensively developed and have little room to grow.

Source: Anthony VanDerworp, director of strategic planning for Washtenaw County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti jumps into Aerotropolis development

Concentrate Wednesday, March 11, 2009

For years the term Aerotropolis and all of the economic development possibilities that come with it have been centered on Wayne County. Now Washtenaw County is starting to get in on the act ...en masse.

Ypsilanti Township, along with Belleville and Taylor, has joined the regional corporation that will develop about 60,000 acres of land from Detroit Metro Airport to Willow Run Airport. The city of Ypsilanti and Van Buren Township signed on last year.

Ypsilanti Township paid $25,000 to become part of the Aerotropolis Development Corporation, which heads up the Aerotropolis initiative. The Aerotropolis is expected to create 64,000 new jobs, $10 billion in economic impact and millions in tax revenue in the area around Metro and Willow Run airports. Major economic development incentives are planned to help develop the Aerotropolis area.

Metro Airport is expected to become one of Metro Detroit's main economic engines of the 21st Century because it has lots of room to grow in the vacant or unused land around it. Most other major metro airports have already been extensively developed and have little room to grow.

Source: Wayne County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

Concentrate Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Sometimes bigger can be better. With that in mind, officials at the Ann Arbor Airport are looking to lengthen its runways.

The Ann Arbor City Council recently approved a environmental impact study on extending the airport's runway. However, if the extensions happen don't let your expectations get carried away. It won't be rivaling Metro Airport any time soon. It�s more about improving what the airport already has and making it more efficient.

Airplanes using the airport have had trouble keeping to the current runway, sometimes having to taxi off the end. This extension would solve the problem.

"It makes us a safer airport," says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.

The airport is already in the middle of expanding its facilities. It's spending $2.5 million to build six hangars and a new maintenance shed. The runway extension would probably start after that project is finished.

"If the stars all line up, you'd be talking sumer 2010, best case," Kulhanek says.

Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport
Writer: Jon Zemke

New building construction nearly done at Ann Arbor Airport

Concentrate Wednesday, November 19, 2008

It's not exactly Aerotropolis development, but the Ann Arbor Airport is indeed expanding.

The small airport on the city's south side is preparing to open a few new buildings in the next few months as part of a $2.5 million improvement project. First up will be the six hangars set to open in January. A new maintenance shed will also open its doors early this spring.

The new hangars will bump up the airport's total to 154. The 63-by-65-foot buildings will offer more hanger space, accommodating either a couple of smaller planes or small, private jets.

"Basically anything with a 60-foot wingspan," says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.

The new 7,700-square-foot maintenance shed will replace the existing 4,000-square-foot structure.

"We really can't even get all of our equipment in there," Kulhanek says. "It's basically an old pall barn that doesn�t even have running water or sewer in it."

He adds this is the first expansion to the airport since the late 1970s or early 1980s. About half of the $2.5 million price tag is being paid for by state and federal grants. The rest comes from bonds the airport took out and will pay off with revenue it generates.

Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport
Writer: Jon Zemke

Aerotropolis : Development News

Washtenaw County gets in on Aerotropolis Development

Ypsilanti jumps into Aerotropolis development

Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

New building construction nearly done at Ann Arbor Airport