Natalie Burg

Natalie Burg's Latest Articles

$12M Kingsley Lane Condos could add up to 21 units to downtown

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 5, 2014

The demand to live near downtown Ann Arbor could be fed a bit more with the proposed Kingsley Lane Condos. The long-delayed project has been been submitted to the Ann Arbor Design Review Board. Currently, the development plans include 21 units, but that could change based on the demands of prospective tenants.  "We started out with an average unit size of 1,000 to 1,100 square feet, but we've already started talking to people about combining units," says Tom Fitzsimmons of Huron Contracting, who is working with developers Peter Allen, Mark Berg. "We've been contacted by about ten people so far. People are interested in larger units." Regardless of how many units it will ultimately contain, the approximately $12 million project will be about 40,000 square feet and include two new buildings and an existing structure on Kingsley Lane. The goal of the project, says Fitzsimmons, is to build the kind of space people are looking for. "We're trying to make nice spaces people are comfortable in, so that includes large decks, balconies, lots of indoor and outdoor space and nice master suites," he says.  If the plan moves forward as planned, Fitzsimmons hopes the Ann Arbor City Council will approve that project in August, and construction would begin immediately. He expects the Kingsley Lane Condo project would then be completed by late 2015.   Source: Tom Fitzsimmons, Huron Contracting Writer: Natalie Burg

Ypsi’s Harvest Moon Cafe builds new bar, adds staff

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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March 5, 2014

After 28 years in business, the Harvest Moon Cafe in Ypsilanti was in need of some renovations. While the family owned restaurant was at it, they decided to add a full bar and expand their hours.  "It came about from customers asking for cocktails," says owner Pauline Tzavaras. "We've always had beer and wine, but we didn't have the space to do any cocktails." After four weeks of renovation, that is no longer the case. Harvest Moon Cafe now includes a full, eight-stool bar. In addition to adding the bar and the complete kitchen renovation, the restaurant, which re-opened about a month ago, now has expanded hours and a menu featuring the return of some customer favorites from the past.  "We want to be known as a neighborhood bar, but still concentrating on our homestyle food," Tzavaras says. "We've had a great response. We're getting busier and busier." To accommodate the bar and expanded hours, three new employees have been hired, bringing the Harvest Moon Cafe staff up to 24 workers. Source: Pauline Tzavaras, Harvest Moon Cafe Writer: Natalie Burg

Diva Nails to open on Maple, two more locations planned

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 5, 2014

Business is booming for Diva Nails. The Arborland nail spa is preparing to open its second location next to Plum Market on Maple Rd. next week, and is already planning a third in Northville while scoping out Troy for a fourth Diva Nails.  "The one in Arborland is very successful now," says Diva Nails owner Frank Dinh. "I have a different way to run the nail business. We do very very high quality work, and we'll do even more high quality at the new spa." After about eight months of renovations, the Maple Rd. location looks set to meet those expectations for quality. The lavish decor includes chandeliers and upscale tile. In addition to manicure and pedicure areas, the 5,000 square foot spa will also include a bar area.  "We are waiting for the beer and wine license," says Dinh. "But we would like to serve beer and wine for the pedicure clients." Final work on the new Diva Nails will complete in the next week. Dinh will employ a staff of 10 initially, and expects to grow that number as the spa's clientele increases. His Northville location does not have a open date yet, but Dinh says he expects it to be ready for business soon. Source: Frank Dinh, Diva Nails Writer: Natalie Burg

Unique mind-body fitness studio coming to Jackson Rd.

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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February 26, 2014

A new concept in fitness is coming to Ann Arbor. As people have become more aware of exercise being one part of overall wellness, trainer Elaine Economou wanted to give her clients a place to go for every aspect of their health. After about a year of planning, she and partner Robin Krienke will be opening Move on Jackson Rd. with the aim of doing exactly that.  "Once people start making changes and start feeling better in their bodies, they start asking themselves, 'What else can I do?'" says Economou. "They start to think more carefully about what they eat, what they wear, what kind of skin products they use."  Move, which is slated to open March 10, will offer clients guidance on all of those questions. The fitness center will offer personal training, group classes, as well as massage, a juice bar and retail area.  Formerly Expressions Design Studio, the 2,800 square foot space has been thoroughly renovated, including the addition of bathrooms with lockers and showers, the creation of separate rooms for training, massage and group classes, as well as loft-style storage. The Jackson Rd. location, Economou says, was perfect for her clientele.  "The west side of Ann Arbor really appealed to me," she says. "It's an up and coming corridor. I train clients in Chelsea, Dexter, Saline and a lot of clients in Ann Arbor, so I was very clear about wanting to be on that corridor." Move will open with a staff of about 25. According to Economou, the studio will welcome clients of all fitness levels, from experiences athletes to those just beginning to improve their wellness. Source: Elaine Economou, Move Writer: Natalie Burg

Tomukun Noodle Bar expanding on success with Korean barbeque next door

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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February 26, 2014

Growing up as a Korean American in Troy, going out for Korean barbecue with his family was a big part of Tom Yon's upbringing. With the success of his four-year-old Tomukun Noodle Bar on a roll in downtown Ann Arbor, he's now bringing that tradition to E. Liberty as well with Tomukun Korean BBQ.  "I thought that Korean barbecue would be a great idea," Yon says. "It's something that's very close to me, close to my heart." When Grand Traverse Pie Company closed in the building next door to his noodle bar, Yon says he knew the opportunity was right to bring the Korean barbecue experience to downtown. The dining concept allows customers to chose their own raw meat and grill it, with the assistance of servers, right at their own table. While some Korean barbecue restaurants are more formal, Yon says Tomukun Korean BBQ will be contemporary and modern.  "It's a lot more casual, a lot more minimalistic," he says. "It will be a place for friends, drinking beer and drinking soju. It's kind like a Korean barbecue/bar."  The 3,150 square foot space has undergone considerable renovation to install the individual grills at each table. The new restaurant will seat about 85 guests between the dining area and bar. Yon anticipates opening at the beginning of April with a staff of about 30 employees. Source: Tom Yon, Tomukun Korean Barbeque Writer: Natalie Burg

Public health partnership bringing affordable dental clinic to Washtenaw County

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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February 26, 2014

Keeping up with proper dental care can be nearly impossible for low-income residents. Though covered by Medicaid, low reimbursements to dentists prevent many clinics from accepting the program, leaving many to skip preventive care altogether. With the recent Medicaid expansion, the demand for dental care in this underserved demographic is about to grow.  Thanks to a new partnership between Washtenaw County Public Health and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, the Washtenaw County Dental Clinic will begin to address that need in 2015. "We're really excited about the clinic because it is going to provide service to some of the most vulnerable people in our community," says acting health officer Ellen Rabinowitz. "This has always been a huge need." Should all move ahead as planned, the Washtenaw County Dental Clinic will open Jan. 2, 2015. The 11-chair office will serve a about 6,000 patients each year with an estimated15,000 clinic visits. It will be located in Ypsilanti's Haab Building on N. Huron St., thanks to St. Joseph Mercy Health System's donation of space.  The clinic, says Rabinowitz, "is very much a partnership project." In addition to St. Joe's, the Washtenaw Health Plan and Michigan Community Dental Clinics are partners in the project, supplying funds and contracting with the clinic for staffing, respectively. All told, the clinic is expected to cost $1.2 million initially, all of which is planned to be reimbursed to the county by the operations of the cost-neutral project.  Source: Ellen Rabinowitz, Washtenaw County Writer: Natalie Burg

Proposed $12.5M project could bring 90 affordable rentals to Ypsilanti

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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February 26, 2014

If a proposed housing project for Ypsilanti's Water Street property moves forward, construction on 90 new affordable rental units could begin in March of 2015 and be open for tenants the following year. The proposal, made by Herman Kittle Properties would place the $12.5 million development project in a key area of Water Street redevelopment area.  "This puts a nice development on the river and it builds the spine we need there. Any other future projects will now have the utilities already there," says Ypsilanti City Planner Teresa Gillotti. "Also, that particular location is on some very difficult-to-build land. We weren't even sure if this site was going to be able to be built out." By building the project on piers, however, the proposed plan would make the site able to be developed. The 90 rental units would include one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, available to residents at 50 to 60 percent of the area median income for Washtenaw County, which is currently $59,063, a value that varied depending upon household size. According to Gillotti, the timing for such a project is good, as demand for affordable rentals is on the rise.  "After the housing market crashed, everything stopped, especially for construction," she says, "but what we have seen are rentals really taking off in the last year to year-and-a-half. The demand has gone up." Before becoming a reality, the housing project must first be approved by Ypsilanti City Council, which will hold a public hearing in March. Then, an application for a Michigan State Housing Development Authority tax credit must be approved in July. Gillotti says the city welcomes the public's input on the project.  Source: Teresa Gillotti, City of Ypsilanti Writer: Natalie Burg

Saline’s Amped Up Alley

By Natalie Burg

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General

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February 26, 2014

Smart growth means employing new and innovative ideas about overlooked spaces. Consider the alley, an urban feature that conjures up all manner of unsavory images. Some communities have discovered that what was once reserved for dumpsters and smoke breaks may actually be an untapped downtown asset. Just ask Saline.

Heritage Collision and Frame grow into second location

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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February 19, 2014

Ypsilanti's Heritage Collision & Frame is expanding to a new location. The new Scio Township location will double the family business in both size and staff.  "We'll have more space to get cars done more effectively and more efficiently," says Mike Berczel, manager of Heritage Collision & Frame. "We've reached capacity here, and are basically at the breaking point." That capacity is set to double when the approximately 6,500 square foot Jackson Rd. shop opens in early summer. Renovations to the space are now underway, and will include the removal of walls, updates to the office area and state of the art equipment. According to Berczel, the key to the business' growth that has led to the need to expand has been a commitment to maintaining the atmosphere of a family company. "We have a family feel," he says. "You're going to get a good experience here. You're going to get honest, up front service." The current Heritage Collision & Frame shop, located on Carpenter Rd., employs a staff of about ten employees. Berczel says the new shop will begin with fewer workers, but will eventually employ the same number of employees, doubling the business' total staff.  Source: Mike Berczel, Heritage Collision and Frame Writer: Natalie Burg

Simply Spanish joining Mark’s Carts lineup this year

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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February 19, 2014

When Xavi Vitta moved to Ann Arbor from Spain years ago, what he missed most was the style of restaurant he was used to at home.   "Something less ceremonial than a restaurant, with outstanding food," he says.  With Simply Spanish, a food cart coming to Mark's Carts this spring, he intents to bring exactly that to Ann Arbor. Simply Spanish will feature authentic Spanish foods that are simple, made with fresh ingredients.  "Eating well has also been a pillar in my upbringing," says Vitta. "I would like to share the joy of eating well with others." According to Vitta, the food cart format is a perfect fit for his concept, enabling a wide variety of customers to share a few tapas during their meal. The cart itself will reflect the Spanish culture as much as the food, decorated in graphics that celebrate the ceramic art of Gaudi.  Vitta plans to open Simply Spanish in April of this year with a staff of two, which he intends to grow to three based on demand. He is looking forward to sharing his culture with the Ann Arbor community through his tapas style cuisine.  Source: Xavi Vitta, Simply Spanish Writer: Natalie Burg