Tanya Muzumdar

Tanya Muzumdar's Latest Articles

Green rental housing program kicks off in Washtenaw County

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Community Development

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October 31, 2012

With its high proportion of college students, rental housing makes up a significant chunk of the housing stock in Washtenaw County. In Ann Arbor alone, rentals comprise about 50% of the residential market, according to Jamie Kidwell, a sustainability associate for the city of Ann Arbor. Accordingly, the city received a grant to improve the energy efficiency of rental units in Washtenaw County, under the umbrella of the county's $3 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Challenge grant. The three-year, $250,000 "greening rental housing" grant will be implemented through a partnership between Washtenaw County, the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Michigan, and will focus on two big categories of rentals: student and affordable housing, Kidwell says. Landlords tend to pass utilities costs onto tenants, which gives them little incentive to make energy-cutting improvements to their properties. "Just to put it in scale a little bit, I think U-M cranks out about 7,000 new renters each year...Our residential sector counts for about 20% of our community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. When you start to stack these numbers up, you see that making an impact on our rental housing is going to help our community a lot in terms of energy conservation, increasing our housing affordability," says Kidwell. While there are already city and countywide energy-savings programs in effect, such as the PACE (Property-Assessed Clean Energy) program for commercial properties and the Better Buildings for Michigan program for homeowners, "I think the challenge will be those smaller-scale landlords, trying to figure out what's the right kind of program for them." The grant funding will cover staffing for the program over the next three years, as well as education and outreach. Over the next couple of months, focus groups of tenants, landlords, and contractors will be convened, with policies and programs likely defined by fall of 2013, says Kidwell. She adds: "Our community energy spend, excluding [U-M's buildings], I believe is about $140 million for natural gas and electricity, so even if you could save 10% of that energy, you've got about $14 million in theory that would go back into our local economy." Source: Jamie Kidwell, sustainability associate, city of Ann Arbor Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Ypsilanti’s Eastside Recreation Center: Two Visions

By Tanya Muzumdar

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General

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October 24, 2012

A trio of U-M architecture grad students were tasked with envisioning what the proposed $12 million rec center on Ypsilanti's Water Street property might look like. One plan highlights Ypsi's downtown, the other its park. Both are exciting and innovative approaches to urban development.

U-M reduces energy usage 8.1%, utility budget by over $5M

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 24, 2012

The University of Michigan's Planet Blue operations team, a group charged with identifying and implementing energy conservation measures in the university's academic buildings, helped to cut last year's energy consumption by 8.1%, saving $4.1 million on utility bills in the process. The energy cuts exceeded the university's goal of 5%, according to Rich Robben, U-M's executive director of plant operations. The savings equates to a reduction of 17,800 metric tons of carbon emissions, comparable to removing 3,562 vehicles from the roads, according to the university. "Last year's utility budget was $64 million, so we've been able to reduce it. This year, our utility budget is going to be reduced to below $59 million," Robben says. "That translates right back to the schools' and colleges' costs. This is a direct hit on the expenses that go into determining whether you need to increase tuition or not. This helps keep tuition rates down." Over the last four years, the Planet Blue team has evaluated and implemented energy conservation measures in 137 academic buildings, such as installing occupancy sensors in conference rooms and updating controls for heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Planet Blue is also assigning teams to various groups of buildings. Those teams will communicate with occupants as to sustainability measures they can take. "University communities are very transient. Your students are changing over every four years, so you're in this mode of continually trying to raise awareness to make sure everybody knows what's going on and what they can do," says Robben. Source: Rich Robben, U-M's executive director of plant operations Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Ypsilanti DDA kicks off next $40k round of facade improvement grants

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 24, 2012

Another round of Ypsilanti storefronts will be getting assisted facelifts with a new round of grant money from the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA). At its meeting last week, the DDA's board of directors approved the latest installment of the Façade Improvement Program, which will award grants totaling $40,000 for eligible projects through the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year. The Historic Downtown is to receive a $20,000 allocation, while Depot Town and West Cross St. - Campus Town will get $10,000 apiece. The DDA will match 50% of qualifying project costs, up to a maximum of $2,500 per grant. At least 16 businesses stand to benefit. Washtenaw County's Eastern Leaders group has put $7,500 towards the program, with the balance coming from the DDA. Only exterior beautification projects such as painting, new awnings, signage, brick repair, parapet repair, or replacement windows will qualify. The program is now in its second year. Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA, would like to see this grant be a perpetual fund. The monies are separate from the DDA's building rehabilitation grant program, which also allows for interior work. "The larger grants, where we're talking about building rehabilitations, we know there are certain buildings in town that are either in a state of disrepair or they're being underutilized and they could really use some heavy investment. At some point in time there's an assumption that we won't have any more of those buildings," Colbeck says. "But when it comes to façade improvement there's almost always going to be a steady stream because people are going to want to replace awnings. A new business is going to come in and say, we want a new sign." Last year's projects included a new sign for Model K, a sign and awning for Old Towne Coin & Gold in Depot Town, and gooseneck exterior lighting for Red Rock Downtown Barbecue. Funds are available to both property and business owners. "So if you are a business owner and you rent, you can still apply for the grant," Colbeck says. Written permission to do the improvements from the property owner is required. Applications are being accepted now through June 30, 2013, and will be reviewed by the DDA on a rolling basis. Source: Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Johnston Agency opens in Dexter, adds 5 insurance jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 24, 2012

In the aftermath of Dexter's tornado last spring, a new services business has sprung up. Allstate Insurance agent Jennifer Johnston has opened Johnston Agency at 8071 Main Street in downtown Dexter. The office is located in a historic purple-painted building which formerly housed the Dexter Leader newspaper. Johnston, a licensed insurance agent, was looking for a business location with a small-town feel, where people look out for each other. Inspired by the quick reaction of Allstate personnel to the tornado: "They were there before the Red Cross," and the manner in which the village pulled together afterward, Johnston says, "we wanted to be part of the Dexter community." The office opened in early September with three insurance agents and an office manager. Johnston plans to add one or two more agents and telemarketing personnel. "We're already expanding," she says. Source: Jennifer Johnston, owner, Johnston Agency Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Ann Arbor gets first all-kids hair salon, zoey + joey

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 24, 2012

It has yet to catch up to toy stores, McDonald's, and tot couture, but the kids' haircare industry is now in a growth spurt. Ilze Meija, a former attorney and stay-at-home mom, was surprised at the lack of a children's salon in Ann Arbor. Other moms she knew were either taking their kids to the big chains, which can turn out uneven results, or to their own fancier salons, a pricey option for young ones. "So there was nothing in between that was just for kids," Meija says. Hence, she founded zoey + joey, a hair care studio dedicated to the under-18 set. zoey + joey, located at 3260 Washtenaw Avenue, in the Arlington Square Plaza on the corner of Huron Parkway and Washtenaw, will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 11-4. The build-out is still underway at the 1,750 square-foot full-service salon, which will have seven hair-cutting stations. Younger clients will sit in mini Mini Cooper cars while getting hair-dos, and the older set can watch sports or play video games while seated in regular chairs. And expect an indoor play structure with a slide in the waiting area. Adults can't fit in the Mini Cooper seats (the main focus is kids, after all) but they, too, can get coiffed. Meija, who owns the salon, will be managing a staff of five stylists and a receptionist. A "green salon", zoey + joey will use vegan shampoo and non-toxic nail polish for girls' mini-manicures. A wash, cut, and style runs $21 for boys, $23 for girls. "It's a growing industry; we just haven't seen it here in Ann Arbor," Meija says. "On both coasts, in California and New York, it's a really big booming industry to open up a hair salon that's just for kids." Source: Ilse Meija, owner and founder, zoey + joey Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Got scones? Depot Town’s Let’s Get Sconed sees rising fortunes

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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October 17, 2012

Scones are the new muffin, at least in Ypsilanti's Depot Town, where scone-baking operation Let's Get Sconed has been heating up the kitchen of Café Ollie. Let's Get Sconed co-owner Danielle Teachout, who also owns MI General Store and Café Ollie with her scone-loving husband Mark, has been helping her employee, Ben Lewis, to run the business. Lewis, aka "head sconer" of Let's Get Sconed, was inspired to turn the scones into a full-time venture last spring. "It was a collaboration of my recipe and his name..." Teachout says. "We encourage our people to be little entrepreneurs." Flavors run from sweet – blueberry-lemon, apple cinnamon, and pumpkin; to savory – zucchini red pepper cheddar. A reuben scone (corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss) is in development. The scones are popular at Café Ollie, and are also sold at the Corner Brewery, at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market on Tuesdays, and at the Wednesday Kerrytown Farmers Market in Ann Arbor (now closed for the season). And the bakers want to get the scones out to hungry masses everywhere. "Right now we are just waiting on our [packaging] labels and we're going to start taking them around to other stores and coffee shops and stuff like that, and starting to sell them there," Teachout says. Source: Danielle Teachout, co-owner of Let's Get Sconed Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Bank of Ann Arbor to open Saline branch, add 5 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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October 17, 2012

The Bank of Ann Arbor is branching out with the opening of a new Saline location. A new branch is coming to 179 E. Michigan Avenue, close to Saline's downtown. A mid-December opening is planned, according to Hans Maier, a senior vice president at the bank. The 1,600-square-foot building has been home to branches of various financial institutions since 1968. The bank is capitalizing on Saline's growing residential population. "With the proximity of Saline in our market area, we thought that would be a great location because of the number of Saline customers we already have in our Ellsworth [Road] office," Maier says. Five employees will staff the branch, according to Maier. Source: Hans Maier, senior vice president, Bank of Ann Arbor Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Downtown Saline to add outdoor dining to spiffed up alley

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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October 17, 2012

The alley is becoming the next promenade in cities like Saline. Saline Main Street, an organization charged with improving the vitality of the downtown, has signed an agreement with the city to spearhead an improvement project in a one-block alley off of Ann Arbor Street, behind the Brecon Grille and Mangiamo Italian Grill on Michigan Avenue. Alley enhancements include replacing a wooden planter with a wrought-iron fence, raising concrete, stringing overhead lighting, adding planters, and installing an entryway feature of a design yet to be determined. The lighting should be in place later this fall, in time for Saline's holiday parade. The restaurants plan to install outdoor seating in the alley when the weather warms next year, according to Rebecca Schneider, the design team leader for Saline Main Street. "It's a wonderful way for us to get more community gathering space, and one of the wonderful things about when you find that space in an alley is that utilizing the space doesn't require closing the street or closing a parking lot, which disrupts commerce and traffic in your downtown," Schneider says. The total project cost is still unknown, says Schneider, due to the expense of overhead lighting and the yet-to-be-determined entryway feature. The city of Saline has contributed $10,000 towards the project. Saline Main Street will raise additional funds as necessary. Saline Main Street will also hold up to six public events a year in the alley. "It's not just outdoor seating for Mangiamo and Brecon Grille, it's also community space which will be utilized for different functions, where we hope to engage all different facets of our city in that space," she adds. Possibilities include wine tastings, art displays, musical performances, and events for children. Source: Rebecca Schneider, Saline Main Street design team leader Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

By night, downtown A2 parking lot becomes Bill’s Beer Garden

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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October 17, 2012

The parking lot behind Ann Arbor's Downtown Home & Garden, which is arguably as scenic as parking lots get, is getting its own scene. Bill's Beer Garden opens there on October 18, next to Mark's Carts outdoor food court. Patrons may bring food from the carts into the garden. It's "the combination of the location, the existence of [Mark' Carts] and the incredible Michigan craft beer industry all kind of coming together, and I think we're going to produce a very nice operation, a very nice place where people will want to come to and want to be," says owner Bill Zolkowski. A beer shed modeled after a Parisian news stand now sits in the lot. A pavilion with a permanent roof, radiant heat, and seating has been built on either side of the greenhouse to the rear of the garden store at 210 S. Ashley St. Bill's Beer Garden will be open from 5-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 4-9 p.m. on Sundays, until December 2. It will re-open on St. Patrick's Day 2013, Zolkowski says. He plans to hire 8-12 staffpersons. It can seat 160 people at tables on the pavilion and classic open-air beer garden benches.   "You're very likely to be sitting next to someone you don't know and end up in a conversation with people, interactions with people that you did not come in with and you didn't anticipate when you walked in the front gate. And that really has been almost a trademark of classic beer gardens, and we want to replicate that..." Zolkowki says. "We'll expand the community, give the community a space with which to come and to hang out. We think it's going to work real well in a city like Ann Arbor." Source: Bill Zolkowski, owner of Bill's Beer Garden Writer: Tanya Muzumdar