Developer plans to raze blighted Michigan Inn on Ann Arbor’s west side

A big piece of blight is about to come down on the far west of Ann Arbor, the old Michigan Inn motel.The single-story motel has sat vacant on Jackson Road near I-94 for years. The building is in visible disrepair, its landscaping is overgrown and has been the victim of fire damage in recent years.Ann Arbor-area resident Larry Hiss recently bought the 1968 structure, originally a Ramada Inn, and the four acres it sits on with plans to redevelop it. First thing is to raze the 129-room hotel and restaurant, which is set to happen in mid March or sooner. He also plans to build a yet-to-be-determined development on the acreage in the foreseeable future.”We have some different idea from different people,” says Larry Hiss, the owner of the Michigan Inn. “We could make it commercial or make part of it residential. There are a lot of ideas right now.”The Michigan Economic Growth Authority recently approved $526,000 in tax incentives to redevelop the property. The catch is it has to be a multi-use facility. The new development is also expected to be worth about $28 million.Source: Larry Hiss, owner of the old Michigan InnWriter: Jon Zemke