Ann Arbor looks for developers for underground garage

Ann Arborites know what’s going below the surface lot on Fifth Avenue next to the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Libraries – 677 parking spots. But what will go above it?That’s a question that’s starting to get asked around City Hall. Ann Arbor City Councilwoman Sandi Smith is preparing a motion to request qualifications for potential developers for the site, in time for the next City Council meeting. Think of it as a first step toward building something on top of the underground parking deck.”The deck is generating a lot of interest in the community about what’s going on top of it,” says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.Pollay says the perimeter of the large site could reach as high as 4-6 stories. The interior of the block could go as high as 18 stories and facilitate office, residential or hotel space or even a combination of those. “We’re going to be ready to accommodate whatever might go there,” Pollay says.The $38 million project is expected to break ground this fall. It will build three levels of parking underneath what is now a surface parking lot and Fifth Avenue. Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and Sandi Smith, city councilwoman for Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke