Optimism, entrepreneurship, and community service. If someone could bottle David Merritt's drive they'd make a whole lotta money. From co-captain of U-M's basketball team to a budding captain of industry, Merritt has made Ann Arbor his home and inspiration his business. Jon Zemke chats with the can-do founder of IMU clothing company to find out what makes him tick.
"It's in our DNA to do amazing things," says Harvey Ovshinsky. Metromode's Jon Zemke sits down with the veteran video producer and screenwriter to talk about Michigan's Film Incentives and their potential impact on the state's investment opportunities, job growth, and brain drain.
Nearly 100 people spoke before the vote on Ann Arbor's Moravian development, and many of them were young. The evening illustrated a generational divide in what people want out of their downtown. News Editor Jon Zemke considers what's next for our current class of young professionals, how this latest chapter in development will shape the city's future, and whether this politically energized group will have a voice at City Council's table?
In WAP John we trust. From Zingerman's menus to U-M building names, the Grafaktri is Ann Arbor's best kept secret, a one-of-a-kind creative studio bursting at the seams with innovation.
Over a billion downloads served. iPhone apps are the new gold rush of software development, turning backroom start-ups into overnight successes. From companies to college courses, Ann Arbor is cashing in on the smart phone trend while preparing for its future.
From households to businesses to city government, everyone is in belt-tightening mode. But if there's one thing Concentrate believes, it's that necessity is the mother of invention. A few local communities have come up with innovative and inexpensive ways to revitalize their downtowns. Time to take notes!
Faced with a citywide population decline, determined Ann Arborites are looking for ways to attract more residents to make a truly bustling 24/7 downtown. Historically, developers and urban fans have had to battle with fractious city factions and, now, a proposed cap on building heights. See whether A2D2 (Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown), the latest initiative to reform downtown's zoning and architectural guidelines, can get the city over these stumbling blocks.
They're two 30-something creatives who moved from North Carolina's storied Research Triangle and set up shop in... Ypsilanti. Thought we were going to say Ann Arbor, didn't you? Not only do these young professionals (and parents) love their new home, they've embraced Metro Detroit in a way few in Washtenaw County ever bother to try.
The Huron River is Ann Arbor's defining natural feature. From kayakers to fisherman to rowers, it's waters have become a vital blue park. And like most parks, the balance between recreational use and environmental health has become a tricky one. This is the debate facing Argo Pond and the decaying dam that created it.
Ann Arbor touts itself as sustainable, progessive and anti-sprawl. And yet almost every proposed development meets heated opposition. The end result? Buildings that aren't as dense or green as they could be. Are greedy, uncooperative developers to blame? Or stuck in amber NIMBY neighborhoods? Is there a way to get these warring factions to make peace?
Our Partners
