Ypsilanti preps for Parkridge Community Center renovations
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
All has been quiet on the Parkridge Community Center
front in Ypsilanti for the past few months, but that doesn't mean the
institution has been given up for dead. Far from it, now that both
public and private groups are making moves to improve the 65-year-old
building.
The city is taking bids on replacing the center's roof
and renovating its bathrooms to make them compliant with the American
Disabilities Act. Local businessman John Barfield is getting closer to
sealing a deal later this spring that could lead to major investment in
the facility.
"We're getting close," Barfield says.
Barfield is a life-long Ypsilanti resident and chairman emeritus of the Bartech Group.
The 81-year-old grew up with the Parkridge Community Center and held
his wedding reception there. It has served as the epicenter of
African-American life on Ypsilanti's south side for generations.
The
Parkridge Community Center has fallen in disrepair in recent years and
was even threatened with closure before Barfield stepped in with a plan
to save it. He wants to renovate the current facility and add another
20,000 square feet of space that would be used both by the community
and as satellite offices for local universities.
Under the
current plan Washtenaw Community College would use 10,000 square feet
to offer classes while the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan
University would utilize the other 10,000 square feet.
Barfield is still working with those universities, the city and the county to make the plan happen.
Source:
John Barfield, founder and chairman emeritus of the Bartech Group and
April McGrath, assistant city manager for Ypsilanti
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ypsilanti Freighthouse looks at more renovations with grant money
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
The
folks trying to save the Ypsilanti Freighthouse are ready to do the
heavy lifting required to breathe new life into the historic structure
in Depot Town.
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation has given a $100,000 grant to the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.
That money will be spent on engineering and architectural drawings that
will be used to collect bids for a full renovation project.
"It's the most important things that need to be done to open the doors," says Bonnie Penet, co-chair of the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. "It will be from the foundation up."
She
hopes to have the drawings in hand within 12 weeks. The Friends of the
Ypsilanti Freighthouse are working to raise the rest of the money, at
least $550,000, needed to complete structural repairs to the building.
"We could easily spend a million or more on everything we want," Penet says. "But to just get the doors open is $550,000."
The
Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse is applying for Federal Stimulus
money through MDOT and its also trying to get a federal earmark similar
to the one that Tiger Stadium
received through U.S. Rep. John Dingell's office. The group is also
lobbying the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to use the
building as Ypsilanti's station on the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line.
All
of that and probably more will be needed to bring the 130-year-old
building back to its glory days. The Freighthouse was closed in 2004
due to a couple of significant-but-not-insurmountable issues.
For
instance, the west wall is bowing out and needs to be repaired. A deck
attached to the building needs to be rebuilt. The floor also needs to
be refurbished to eliminate trip hazards. Some work has been done when
the friends group got the surrounding grounds regarded so water will be
directed away from the building's base.
The 5,000-square-foot,
red-brick structure was used as a freighthouse until right after World
War II, when it was converted into warehouse. In 1979 the city bought
it and turned it into a community center, where it made the state Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Source: Bonnie Penet, co-chair of the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse
Writer: Jon Zemke
U-M Museum of Art ready to open after extensive renovations
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
The people behind the newly refurbished University of Michigan Museum of Art weren't trying to make a better art museum as much as they were trying to make a better Diag.
They wanted to turn the Museum of Art into an indoor version of the Diag where students, staff and community members would gather, interact. In essence the new facility would serve as a gateway to the university.
"Philosophically, we were thinking how can me make the art museum a more essential part of the university and the community," says James Steward, director of the U-M Museum of Art.
The new Museum of Art is also much bigger, functional and fancier now that the university has poured $41.9 million into it. It's bigger because the old version was 41,000 square feet and the new version is 94,000 square feet.
Functional because its Alumni Memorial Hall, designed by Allied Works Architecture, includes room for displays, research, exhibitions, educational programs, classrooms, a cafe and a 225-seat auditorium. Fancier because all of this lets the university display the museum’s 150-year-old collection of art (18,000 pieces) capable of making an eyebrow go high while still serving as a hub for the local arts community.
The opening also returns one of the campus' high-traffic corners back to normal. The Museum of Art is located at the corner of State and South University streets. Most students walking from the South and West quads have trekked past the construction at the Museum of Art for years now. No longer now that the construction cranes and cement trucks have moved to another corner of campus.
Source: James Steward, director of the University of Michigan Museum of Art
Writer: Jon Zemke
Work set to begin again on Dexter Main Street bridge
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
Think of this as the home stretch for the Main Street bridge project in downtown Dexter.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission plans to begin work on the bridge reconstruction in early April and wrap the whole project up before the end of May.
"We expect to be completed with the work in approximately 4-6 weeks," says Aaron Berkholz, construction superintendent with the Washtenaw County Road Commission.
Last year workers spent their time removing the 100-year-old dam underneath the bridge, tearing out the old bridge and putting in a replacement -all while allowing traffic to pass. This spring is all about tying up the loose ends.
Work crews will be sealing and staining the exterior concrete surfaces, putting the ornamental steel rail on the concrete barrier walls and placing ornamental sandstone caps on the wall columns. Grading, landscaping and remaining road work will also be done this spring.
The new $2.5 million bridge will accommodate both motorized and non-motorized traffic. There will still be two-lanes for cars, along with bike lanes and sidewalks for pedestrians.
Source: Aaron Berkholz, construction superintendent with the Washtenaw County Road Commission
Writer: Jon Zemke
Chelsea plans to expand City Hall later this summer
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
Chelsea has all the ducks it needs to expand its City Hall. City officials just need to line them up in a row to make the project happen.
Chelsea officials spent this winter acquiring two parcels for the City Hall expansion. They are now working on plans for the project and expect to start putting shovels in the ground before the cold weather returns.
"Hopefully the project will start within the next couple months," says John Hanifan, city manager for Chelsea.
The city spent about $1.5 million to buy City Hall from the Chelsea State Bank and obtain land for its new downtown police station. The bank will shrink its drive-thru lanes from five to two, making room for a new 10,000-square-foot police headquarters at a cost of $2.25 million.
Source: John Hanifan, city manager for Chelsea
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor sets parks on fire with ecological burns
Source: Concentrate, 3/25/2009
Most
people think of Ann Arbor's numerous parks as quiet, serene places
locals go to escape. Many of those people don’t associate fire with
them, but they might start to do so soon.
The city's Natural
Areas Preservation Program is starting to use ecological burns to curb
runaway vegetation and help the greenways renew themselves more
naturally. So far the city has performed these burns in the Dolph
Nature Area, Lakewood Park, Hansen Park, Leslie Park Golf Course,
Leslie Park Nature and Science Center, Barton Nature Area and Black
Pond Woods.
Wildfires have been part of the Midwest ecological
system for centuries. First as products of natural events like lighting
strikes and later on as controlled burns by indigenous peoples. The
practice largely ended after Europeans arrived, but now some city
officials see it as a way to let vegetation and wildlife flourish.
"A
vast majority of the Midwest environment is adapted to work with
wildfire," says Jason Frenzel, volunteer and outreach coordinator for
Ann Arbor's Natural Areas Preservation Program. "We're basically
introducing a historically accurate process."
The burns have
targeted things like dead oak leaves in forests and dry grasses and
hedges in fields and marshes. Eliminating this weaker competition
allows the rest of the surrounding vegetation to grow more vigorously
because there is more food and room.
Source: Jason Frenzel, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Ann Arbor's Natural Areas Preservation Program
Writer: Jon Zemke
Where to put the train station in Ypsilanti?
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
Ypsilanti is gearing up to make a decision on a project that has enormous potential to improve the city’s prospects both short- and long-term.
City officials are trying to figure out which side of the tracks to put Ypsilanti’s stop on the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. The city’s Planning Commission is holding a public meeting on that subject Thursday, along with explaining the potential impact this stop could have on economic development.
"This is one of the best things that can happen in any city," says Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authorities. "This will be a huge boost to Depot Town and Eastern Michigan University."
Ypsilanti's leaders do know that the station will go in Depot Town. They’re trying to decide whether to turn the historic Freighthouse into the station or build a new station on the parking lot on the other side of the tracks at the end of Maple Street.
The meeting will be held at Haab Health Building, 111 N Huron St. There will be an open house of the plans between 4-7 p.m. A formal presentation of the plans and the options will be held at 7 p.m. For information, call (734) 483-9646.
Source: Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authorities
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor orders new solar-powered parking meters
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
You might not like paying for parking in Ann Arbor but at least it's about to become a more sustainable endeavor. The city’s Downtown Development Authority has order a pilot set of solar-powered parking meters.
The DDA ordered 25 solar meters and expects to install them within the next six weeks. They will be placed on Main, Liberty and State streets as the first test phase before replacing all of downtown’s 1,500 parking meters.
"They’ll be in the most visible places so people get used to using them," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.
Right now traditional parking meters stand vigil over those spaces. Pollay hopes to eventually swap out the vast majority with the 175 solar-powered meters. One meter station can cover about half a dozen parking spaces. The poles for the traditional meters will remain to help mark the parking spaces for each station.
The solar-powered parking meters come equipped with a solar panel that enables them to remain entirely off the grid. These stations can accept coin and credit card payments. They will also allow patrons to plug their meters from any of the stations in the city.
The DDA is spending $400,000 to install the sun-powered parking meters. They cost $325,000 to buy and the DDA set aside another $75,000 for installation.
Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor racks up millions in federal earmarks
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
When it comes to federal dollars in Washtenaw County there is "Stimulus" cash and "Omnibus" cash. Right now the difference is we know where the Omnibus money is going and Ann Arbor is one of the big winners.
Omnibus is short for the Omnibus Appropriations Act, which is the budget bill that Congress passes each year. These are notorious for earmarks, federal dollars set aside by members of Congress for projects back in their districts, which make up a fraction of overall bill (this year's earmarks total approximately 3%). What some talking heads like to decry as pork turns out to be valued funds for getting stuff done outside the beltway.
That means $2.5 million in projects that will directly impact Ann Arbor. The big winners include:
- $950,000 for the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail project
- $951,500 for a wind generator for Ann Arbor's water treatment plant
- $381,000 for facilities and equipment upgrades at the University of Michigan Health System
- $237,500 for the Allen Park Greenway
The Omnibus bill also includes language directing the Federal Transit Administration (the agency that doles out funds to build mass transit lines) to give "priority consideration" to the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. That project is expected to come on line in the fall of 2010.
Source: Offices of senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ypsilanti’s downtown scores low vacancy rate despite economy
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
Ypsilanti's downtown is enjoying a low vacancy rate these days, bad economy be damned. So much so that the downtown has half the vacancy rate of revered downtown neighbor Ann Arbor.
Ypsi's vacancy rate measures a reasonably healthy 7 percent so far this year. Tree Town's comes in at 14 percent while Depot Town's vacancies hit 11 percent - but is expected to dip below 10 percent within a few months.
"A lot of other downtowns have vacancy rates above 7 percent ..." says Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authoritie. "And a lot of the strip malls are ghost towns these days."
Downtown Ypsilanti has experienced a boom in eclectic boutique and cafe-culture businesses setting up shop in the city's center. The opening of the Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator in the newly renovated Mack & Mack building is only the latest in a long string of blights storefronts turning into entrepreneurial bright spots.
There are even plans to reopen the recently closed TC’s Speakeasy storefront on Michigan Avenue.
"We have people who are working on their business plan to purchase it," Vosburg says.
Source: Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Downtown development authorities
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ann Arbor Energy Office on lookout for new energy ideas
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
The Ann Arbor Energy Office doesn't have all of the answers. It's staff knows it, and that's why they're looking for your ideas.
The energy office has created a list of projects it hopes to put into action with the help of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds. These ideas (about a baker's dozen) range from expanding the getDowntown program to installing more LED streetlights to creating a crash course energy efficiency program for homes.
But the energy office wants more. It wants local residents to send in their ideas and suggestions for promoting more sustainable options in Ann Arbor.
"Our goal is to be more transparent and let more people participate in the planning process," says Andrew Brix, energy programs manager with the Ann Arbor Energy Office.
The ideas will be rated on a combination of CO2 and energy use reduction, along with job creation. All ideas must include enough information so they can be fairly evaluated and be able to be implemented within one year or less.
The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday. For information, send an email to energy@a2gov.org.
Source: Andrew Brix, energy programs manager with the Ann Arbor Energy Office
Writer: Jon Zemke
Meeting focuses on roundabout plans for U.S. 23/Geddes
Source: Concentrate, 3/18/2009
The devilish details are about to come out of the roundabouts planned for the U.S. 23 / Geddes Road intersection now that the Michigan Department of Transportation will release the details about the project at a public meeting March 25.
The plans call for three roundabouts for the freeway exit on Ann Arbor's east side. They will replace traffic lights at the on/off-ramps for the exit and the intersection of Geddes and Earhart Road.
Roundabouts, a.k.a. traffic circles, are seen as the most cost-effective way to improve flow and relieve congestion at the intersection without expanding it. The project is also looking at improving the intersection by providing places for pedestrian and bicyclists, while also improving drainage, lighting, utilities and landscaping in the area.
Roundabouts have been popping up like dandelions around Ann Arbor in recent years. A pair of them were installed at the Maple Road exit for M-14 to accommodate increased traffic from nearby Skyline High School. Another is at the intersection of Nixon Road and Huron Parkway.
Modern roundabouts include a central island to guide the vehicular traffic and splitter islands at each leg of an intersection. One-way traffic moves around the central island where entering traffic must yield to the traffic already in the roundabout.
Traffic circles slow and calm traffic, resulting in fewer accidents. They also decrease delays and cut down on the number of idling vehicles, reducing air pollution.
They are common throughout Europe and have been appearing more frequently in North America in recent years. More common on the coasts, roundabouts and traffic circles have been popping up in southeast Michigan's suburbs in recent years.
The meeting will be held between 7 – 9 p.m. in Concordia University's Student Union Riverside Room, 4090 Geddes Road. For information, contact City Project Manager David Dykman at ddykman@a2gov.org or (734) 794-6410, ext 43685.
Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke
SPARK East incubator opens in Ypsilanti with 4 tenants
Source: Concentrate, 3/11/2009
New economy entrepreneurs have officially
landed in downtown Ypsilanti now that four start-ups have set up shop
in Ann Arbor SPARK's newly opened East incubator.
The four lucky companies include LaVision,
SENSI Change, Brainstorm Creative and Smart Dining. They are taking up
part of the new incubator's 8,000 square feet on the ground floor of
the Mack & Mack building on Michigan Avenue next door to Bombadill's Cafe.
The Maurer family bought and renovated the blighted 19th Century building into one of downtown's most valuable addresses last year. Ann Arbor SPARK will occupy the ground floor while about a dozen lofts will be built on the second and third floors.
The
incubator offers two conference rooms, utilities, high-speed Internet,
copiers and convenient parking for its tenants. It also provides expert
business support from Ann Arbor SPARK and provides numerous
opportunities to network with other new economy entrepreneurs. For
information on leasing space click here or send an email to shamar@annarborusa.org or call (734) 527-9171.
Source: Ann Arbor SPARK
Writer: Jon Zemke
Kitchen incubator envisioned for Chelsea's Washington St Center
Source: Concentrate, 3/11/2009
In 1999 Chelsea got a new high school and
an empty kitchen. The high school has been heavily used, graduating
class after class of students. The kitchen in the old high school, now
called the Washington Street Center, has been used sparingly.
That
looks to change this year if Victoria Bennett has anything to say about
it. At least the kitchen part. She wants to turn the industrial-sized
kitchen that used to feed hundreds of teens every day into a kitchen
incubator for aspiring culinary businesses.
Bennett, a Chelsea
resident, is an academic associate at Washtenaw Community College and
has worked with entrepreneurs at the University of Michigan's Ross
School of Business. She points out that there isn't much of anything in
regards to business incubation on the west side of the county and
thinks a kitchen incubator will serve a pressing need locally.
"This is a blatant need that is not being filled," Bennett says.
Although
the kitchen is only used occasional to prepare meals for senior
citizens, she sees lots of aspiring cooks taking advantage of the space
as long as there is someone there to follow through on the vision.
Bennett knows that person is her and she thinks it won't be hard
because a number of people have shown interest.
"I hope to have it up and going by the end of the year," Bennett says.
For information on the fledgling kitchen incubator, click here or send an email to Bennett at vbennett@wccnet.edu.
Source: Victoria Bennett, academic associate with Washtenaw Community College
Writer: Jon Zemke
Ypsilanti jumps into Aerotropolis development
Source: Concentrate, 3/11/2009
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