Ann Arbor receives $4.3 million grant for placemaking projects around Blake Transit Center

The city of Ann Arbor recently received a $4.3 million grant to fund placemaking projects as the block surrounding Blake Transit Center is redeveloped. The grant comes from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation through the Michigan Talent Partnership program. The whole redevelopment project is a collaboration among the city, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. It will encompass the block that is bordered by South Fourth Avenue, South Fifth Avenue, East Liberty Street, and East William Street.

“This project will reimagine the whole block,” says Joe Giant, the city’s director of economic development. “It’s next to a new high-rise affordable housing development with more than 300 units.” There will also be around 6,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

At the street level, the pedestrian experience will be completely different than it is today, connecting people to transit and creating opportunities to pause within the built environment.

“Placemaking is creating engaging places people want to be,” says Giant. “This redevelopment project is taking a cohesive look at the human experience surrounding it, with the goal of making the area better for people who live there and making the block more appealing and vibrant.”

Goals include increasing transit ridership and inspiring more people to call downtown Ann Arbor home.

“When you have these big projects, the idea is that it will renew attention to downtown,” Giant says. “Having places to walk around supports retail. We have between 13,000 and 15,000 University of Michigan graduates each year. We want to give people reasons to want to stay.”

Construction in the project area starts this summer, but streetscape improvements will be the last thing incorporated once the high-rise is complete in a couple years.

“The biggest change to the public realm/streetscape will be on Fourth Avenue,” says Giant. “Right now, there are a lot of bus huts, but that street is going to be rebuilt for dedicated bus loading and pedestrian areas. It will be similar to State Street, but with its own treatment so it stands out.”