Natalie Burg

Natalie Burg's Latest Articles

Connecting William Street study complete

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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March 27, 2013

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's two-year district planning process process known as Connecting William Street is now complete. The project, which focused on how to best redevelop five city-owned properties along William St. and Fifth Ave., included committee meetings, public outreach, community forums and the services of a land use economist and architecture and engineering firm.  The results of the study were published in January in the Final Connecting William Street Plan, which was adopted as the official thirteenth City Master Plan resource document earlier this month.  "I believe that most of the plan recommendations reaffirm existing plans and community goals for the downtown," says Ann Arbor DDA Planning and Research Specialist Amber Miller. More than 2,000 community members contributed feedback throughout the course of the study, through both surveys and public meetings.  "The majority of the feedback we received confirmed that people want a vibrant sidewalk experience and more opportunities to live, work, and engage in activities downtown," Miller says. "Reinforcing this, the majority of participants supported taller buildings in the core, but made it clear that surrounding context should be considered."  Now that the plan is finalized and the Connecting William Street process is complete, Miller says the DDA board is now discussing the plan recommendations that include DDA action. For example, such recommendations include converting existing office space in the 4th and William parking structure to more active ground floor use, and streetscape and infrastructure improvements.      Source: Amber Miller, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority Writer: Natalie Burg

Georgetown Mall progresses toward demolition

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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March 27, 2013

Progress toward the demolition of the vacant Georgetown Mall on Packard St. seems to be on the horizon as Washtenaw County has already worked with DTE to relocate power lines on the property, and is prepared to proceed with demolition and environmental cleanup work as soon as the property developer is ready. "The county has selected its contractor to do the grant-related work," says Washtenaw County Economic Development Specialist Nathan Voght. "Our contractor is under contract and ready to go. We will give him a notice to proceed once we know the non-grant funded work is also under contract and ready to proceed." Washtenaw County has been working with the city of Ann Arbor to help redevelop the property for more than two years. The site has been approved as a Brownfield Redevelopment project, giving the developer tax increment financing incentives to assist with the cost of redeveloping the contaminated site.  In addition, Washtenaw County has received a $1 million Clean Michigan Initiative Grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to assist with demolition and soil remediation. Release of these funds is contingent on a signed contract between the private developer, Craig Schubiner of Bloomfield Hills-based firm Harbor Georgetown. Once Schubiner has reached an agreement with a contractor for work not covered by the grant, the grant-funded work can begin. Voght estimates the grant work of demolition and soil remediation will take three to four months.   After this process is complete, work on the planned Packard Square development, an approximately $48 million mix of apartments and retail, is set to begin. According to the site's Brownfied Redevelopment plan, the development will create at least 45 new jobs.  While many people are certainly looking forward to the Packard Square redevelopment process to move forward, Voght says those living in the neighborhoods around the Georgetown Mall are likely the most excited.  "For those neighborhoods, it's been a commercial center, a place where they all shopped," he says. "I think they were disappointed to see it deteriorate, and are looking forward to seeing something new there."  Source: Nathan Voght, Washtenaw County Writer: Natalie Burg

Downtown A2 shop digitally preserves priceless media

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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March 27, 2013

Who doesn't have boxes full of photos, slides or home videos sitting around in their homes, waiting to be dealt with? The commonly procrastinated task of converting old media into new is for fairly good reason. Until recently, there just wasn't anywhere local to have the service done. "We did our research and found the cheapest way to [convert] slides is to ship them to India," says Hanna Stelman, a University of Michigan School of Information graduate who focused on preservation of information. "Why would you want to fly your priceless slides somewhere?" To give people another choice, Stelman and her partners Eric Hansen and Rob Hoffman created Priceless Photo Preservation, a business that converts an array of old media into usable and achievable digital media. All three partners have degrees in archiving. "We make an effort to preserve things to archival standards," says Stelman, "meaning, files that aren't going to corrupt as easily. We also include compressed files to upload online." Priceless Photo Preservation began from the partners' homes, but is celebrating the grand opening of their new downtown Ann Arbor location this week. Stelman says the business' growth necessitated the move to a dedicated space. In addition to converting old media to new, the company can also enhance media, such as adding verbal recordings to media to archive memories along with images. Stelman says the goal of Priceless Photo Preservation is to expand beyond Ann Arbor into Grand Rapids and Detroit.   Source: Hanna Stelman, Priceless Photo Preservation Writer: Natalie Burg

Ypsi’s Screamin Hot Shoes caters to every woman’s foot

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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March 27, 2013

Paula Filek has had a dream of getting into the shoe business for years. The owner of Paula's Barbershop in Ypsilanti has long wanted to give more women more choices when it comes to shoes, and a storefront just a quick walk down Cross St. from her shop recently provided the opportunity for her dream to come true.  Screamin Hot Shoes celebrated its opening in Depot Town earlier this month, offering everything from flip flops to party shoes at prices employee Clay Byrd says aren't available anywhere else.  "A lot of our shoes are inspired by what top designers are doing with their shoes," says Byrd, noting that price is all that separates their selection from such high profile designers. "We have nothing that compares to what you would pay for a Jimmy Choo. You can get a fun pair of shoes here and still have the money to go out in them." While Screamin Hot Shoes has quickly been noted for the store's offering of shoes for transgendered women and drag queens, most of these shoes in larger sizes and more elaborate styles are available on the shop's website rather than in-store.  "She just wanted to sell really pretty shoes," Byrd says of Filek. "We want people to feel comfortable and explore their inner diva and have a good time."   Screamin Hot Shoes currently employs Byrd and Filek, and Filek and hopes to continue to grow in the new space. She plans to eventually expand her inventory to include hosiery and accessories.   Source: Clay Byrd, Screamin Hot Shoes Writer: Natalie Burg

Insomnia Cookies to open second area location in Ypsi

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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March 20, 2013

It would appear that area snackers just can't get enough late-night cookies. An Insomnia Cookies store is set to open on W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti, just one year after the brand's Ann Arbor location opened it's doors on S. University.  "The Ann Arbor location is doing beautifully," says Marketing Manager of Serve U Brands Renee Sarnecky for Insomnia Cookies. "The students and the local community seem to really enjoy the late night retail and delivery hours." Though an exact date isn't set, Sarnecky expects the new Insomnia Cookies to open at some point in April with a staff of up to 10 employees.  "Ypsilanti is the perfect place for an Insomnia Cookies, and being the home of Eastern Michigan University makes it even more perfect," Sarnecky says. "Students are always in need of a late night snack. With limited late night food options, especially ones that deliver."  For more detailed updates on opening dates, Sarnecky directs cookie fans to the Insomnia Cookie Facebook page. A grand opening will be planned for the location that will include the distribution of free cookie coupons in and around EMU's campus.  Source: Renee Sarnecky, Insomnia Cookies Writer: Natalie Burg

Chelsea native opens rare chiropractic specialty practice in hometown

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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March 20, 2013

Since the opening of Chelsea Chiropractic & Functional Neurology this month, Chelsea has become home to one of just three chiropractors in the state specializing in neurology. The 1,100 square foot office on W. Middle St. will celebrate its grand opening on March 28.  Keiser practiced chiropractics in Nashville and southern Florida before moving back to his hometown to open his business with his fiance. While Keiser sees patients for traditional chiropractic services, he says his neurological practice can help those who might have given up hope of dealing with side effects from head injuries, vertigo, strokes and more when symptoms persist despite receiving a clean bill of health from neurologists. "We understand that just because there is nothing physically broken in the brain, that doesn't mean there's nothing wrong," he says. "We go in and find those areas that aren't functioning so well in the brain and we provide therapies and rehab to allow them to come back to health."  Chelsea Chiropractic employs Keiser, his fiancé and one additional employee. Keiser is one of three chiropractors in his field in Michigan and fewer than 500 board certified functional neurologists in the world.  Source: Dr. Nathan Keiser, Chelsea Chiropractic & Functional Neurology Writer: Natalie Burg

Old Buildings With New Uses Inspire Development

By Natalie Burg

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General

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March 20, 2013

Sometimes it seems historic preservation and economic development are at odds with one another, but innovative business owners across Michigan are proving otherwise. Learn how entrepreneurs in Pontiac, Ypsilanti and Lansing are blending the two to create neighborhood growth.

From a dying landmark to live music, the Crofoot rocks Downtown Pontiac

By Natalie Burg

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General

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March 20, 2013

Both the building at 1 S. Saginaw in Pontiac and the McGowan family have deep ties to Michigan history. Through their redevelopment of the Crofoot building from abandoned office space to a ballroom, the family proved that the recipe for downtown revitalization is one part historic preservation, one part innovation, and a dash of rock 'n roll.

An industrial landmark finds a new purpose in the heart of Lansing

By Natalie Burg

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General

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March 20, 2013

For a century, Lansing's industrial history was reflected in a prominent Michigan Ave. storefront that was built as a lumber mill before housing a GM supplier. As the city itself transformed, so has the building, now home to a decorative artist who is helping to redefine the neighborhood.

Glassbox Coffee brings specialty javas and juicing to S. University

By Natalie Burg

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Arts and Culture

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March 20, 2013

There may be few things that sound more ordinary than coffee and juice, but if Jason Friend has his way, the experience patrons have with both at the new Glassbox Coffee on S. University will be anything but humdrum.  "We are a specialty coffee shop that also offers a full juicing menu," says Friend. "Our goal is to source coffee beans from the top roasters in the country." Friend has been working on developing Glassbox Coffee for about a year and a half. The shop makes many of its ingredients in-house, as well as sourcing from such gourmet coffee companies as Gimme, Stumptown, Verve and Grand Rapids-based Madcap Coffee. The rotating menu of juices, however, is where the café really stands out from the crowd. "I am a huge juicing fan and always wanted to offer it in a shop environment," Friend says. "Juicing is a wonderful way to get your daily vitamins and nutrients in a great tasting, enjoyable way." The 700 square foot space underwent extensive renovations from a former office to a gourmet café. Three sides of Glassbox Coffee exemplify the shop's name with floor to ceiling windows. Providing top quality atmosphere is just as important to Friend as his carefully chosen drink ingredients. "We strive to be a hospitality based shop," he says. "To steal from Danny Meyer, 49 percent of our business is the quality of our drinks; 51 percent is how we make people feel while here."  When the weather improves, Glassbox Coffee will also offer outdoor seating. The café currently employs a staff of five.  Source: Jason Friend, Glassbox Coffee Writer: Natalie Burg