Government

Ann Arbor moves forward on East Stadium bridge replacement

The East Stadium Boulevard bridges near Michigan Stadium are about to undergo a transformation that will eventually lead to their replacement within the next couple years.The 92-year-old bridges have begun to fail, prompting city officials to begin removing and replacing structures that normally have a 75-year lifespan. The bridges span State Street and a railroad line. The City Council recently authorized the removal of five of the 16 concrete beams after one began failing earlier this year."This particular beam went from bad to worse in the last winter because of the freeze-thaw cycle," says Homayoon Pirooz, a project manager with the city of Ann Arbor, adding that the city will be removing the first four beams rather than just taking out beam No. 5. After that job is completed in mid November, the city expect to finalize replacement plans. A full replacement of the bridges is expected to take place next year. The federal and state government is expected to cover $21 million of the project's $23 million price tag. Current plans call for more pedestrian-friendly bridges with aesthetic touches like historic lamp posts, benches and other accoutrements. Electrical lines will also be buried underground. The upgrades will be similar to what the Broadway bridges on the north side of the city underwent a few years ago."We do have a design that we have fine tuned in the last several months," Pirooz says.The city will hold a public meeting highlighting these designs between 6:30-9 p.m. today at Pioneer High School.Source: Homayoon Pirooz, a project manager with the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti plans to reform zoning to accommodate artists

Local libraries see uptick in popularity with down economy

Dexter and Saline's libraries are watching more and more people take advantage of their services these days. Those free DVD rentals are an obvious hook, but could it mean we'll see an uptick in literary appreciation?Excerpt:Library directors across the area are reporting increases in usage, in part, they say because of the economy, and in some cases because of new or expanded buildings.Computer usage is at an all-time high in area libraries with people job hunting or applying for unemployment benefits.Read the rest of the story here.

AATA considers countywide expansion of service

Could the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority become a county-wide service? It's a question that's being asked of at least 1,100 Washtenaw County residents this fall.AATA has commissioned CJI Research to conduct a $40,000 random sample telephone survey to assess the popularity of expanding AATA's services on a county-wide level. The results are expected to be delivered by mid November."We have been asked by many community leaders to expand our services county wide," says Mary Stasiak, manager of community relations for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.Right now AATA primarily serves the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas, although it has expanded commuter service to Chelsea and Plymouth as part of a pilot program with the University of Michigan. Expanding AATA to a county-wide service could stretch bus routes out as far as Saline and Manchester among other population centers.Source: Mary Stasiak, manager of community relations for the Ann Arbor Transportation AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

University of Michigan looks at remaking Ann Arbor transit landscape

The Google effect is starting to ripple out to Ann Arbor's transit community, too.Excerpt:The University of Michigan is on the cusp of transforming Ann Arbor’s transportation network.Creating more efficient transportation options from U-M’s North Campus, which now includes the 174-acre ex-Pfizer site, to its Central Campus and medical facilities, rose to a top priority this week as part of a new university-driven transportation initiative.The move could fundamentally alter the city’s transit infrastructure:  All options are on the table, officials said, which could mean intra-city rail or trolleys.U-M President Mary Sue Coleman signaled Oct. 5 in her “State of the University” speech that the university would jump into the local transportation mix - beyond an existing proposal to create a transit station at Fuller Road near the hospital.The university’s involvement promises to add a sense of legitimacy, if also a layer of political complexity, to the region’s transportation ambitions.“We are completely intertwined as communities, so it’s going to be very important for us to plan together,” Coleman told AnnArbor.com. “I’m excited about our trying to do a better job on the North Campus-Central Campus connection. Clearly that has impacts on the city and the state, so we want to involve everybody in that discussion as we get some ideas for what we might do.”Read the rest of the story here and here.

Systems in Motion hosts entry level job fair in Ypsilanti

Systems in Motion isn't wasting any time breaking into the Ann Arbor-area market.The newest darling of the Silicon Valley IT start-up world chose Ann Arbor to make its first major investment earlier this fall. Today it will hold an information session about its Entry Level Training Program for the IT industry at Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator in downtown Ypsilanti, 215 W. Michigan Ave.The program is working with Michigan Works! To help people who have been laid off, are about to lose their jobs or in households making $40,000 a year or less to get a foot in the door in the growing IT industry. The training sessions will be held from November through January and they come with a good likelihood of future employment."They're basically recruiting with the understanding that the people going through the training will more than likely be hired," says Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and communications with Ann Arbor SPARK.Systems in Motion is investing $15 million over the next five years to create a new IT support center in Ann Arbor. The IT firm expects to create 1,084 jobs with the investment. It is also evaluating investing in other marquee college towns, such as Austin, Texas and Durham, North Carolina.The California-based firm is only 3 months old but has already been able to lock down some venture capital funding and hire 20 people. Systems in Motion plans to create the next generation of IT infrastructure and workers by setting up IT support center at college towns across North America. The combination of the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College made the Ann Arbor area a prime target for Systems in Motion.For information on the IT information session, call (734) 484-7247 or send an email to amy@annarborusa.org.Source: Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and communications with Ann Arbor SPARKWriter: Jon Zemke

Washtenaw Talent Center focuses on new direction

Washtenaw Avenue isn't a thoroughfare known for bringing smiles to faces, at least not like Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor or Cross Street in Depot Town, Ypsilanti. The Washtenaw Talent Center wants that to change. A group of local stakeholders is working on a plan to turn the suburban-strip-mall-dominated byway into something much more urban and sustainable."We're investigating it's redevelopment potential," says Anya Dale, a senior planner with Washtenaw County's Office of Strategic Planning. That means turning the main artery between Ann Arbor Ypsilanti into a denser and walkable corridor filled with mixed-use buildings and improved mass transit. "The key is there is a significant population living there that doesn't have cars or doesn't use a car to get to work," Dale says.The group has been working on these plans for several months now. It is planning on having a steering committee meeting on Oct. 22. Anyone interested in the project can send Dale an email at dalea@ewashtenaw.org.Source: Anya Dale, a senior planner with Washtenaw County's Office of Strategic Planning Writer: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti’s Freighthouse plans to raise more money

Just when the road to recovery for Ypsilanti's Freighthouse seemed golden, the local grassroots group driving the rehab of the historic building has found some more bumps in the road. The Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse had consistently pegged the cost of renovating the structure at a little more than half a million dollars. Then it got that amount from a combination of grants and federal stimulus money. Now that the metal is hitting the rail it seems like they're going to need about as much more to make the building what they want it to be."Even after the stimulus grant there is still half a million dollars that needs to be raised," says Ed Penet, trustee of the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.Once the friends group received the stimulus money, the state stepped in and looked at the business plan for renovating the freighthouse. Several holes appeared, such as s seismic survey ($6,000) to determine if there are any problems under the ground that could inhibit the project. The development also needs six-figures worth of an operational funding cushion for when it its ready for operation."It's true for any construction project that you set aside money for contingencies," Penet says.The friends group is unphased and concentrating on raising the rest of the money. The idea is to have all of the paperwork done, in and approved by the state in time for the New Year. Construction is set to begin later this winter and wrap up in time for it to serve as the Ypsilanti station for the first train of the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter train a year from now.The freighthouse, located in Depot Town, will also serve as a tourism information and community gathering space. The 130-year-old Freighthouse closed in 2004 due to a couple of significant-but-not-insurmountable issues, such as a bowing west wall and deck filled with unsafe trip hazards. The friends group recently had the surrounding grounds regraded so water will be directed away from the building's base.The 5,000-square-foot, red-brick structure was used as a freighthouse until right after World War II, when it was converted into a warehouse. In 1979 the city bought it and turned it into a community center. It made the state Register of Historic Places in 1997.Source: Ed Penet, trustee of the Friends of the Ypsilanti FreighthouseWriter: Jon Zemke

Ypsilanti takes fresh but desperate look at Water Street

The buildings are about to come down on the Water Street property next to downtown Ypsilanti.The city has landed the $850,000 in federal and county grants to raze the buildings and has hired an environmental consultant to facilitate the process. The buildings are expected to actually begin falling in January. The Ypsilanti City Council is also reevaluating its options in regard to the 38-acre property."The economy has changed what we are looking at in the future," says April McGrath, assistant city manager for Ypsilanti.The city took out millions of dollars in bonds to buy the 42 properties on the parcel just southeast of downtown. The collection of properties borders Michigan Avenue and the Huron River. It became an albatross when the chosen developer, Joseph Freed & Associates, pulled out in 2007.City officials have been scrambling to find a developer for the parcel, originally envisioned as an urban extension of downtown. Now they are willing to chop it up and allow suburban-style development to get the tax revenue flowing in to help pay off the bonds.Right now the city is negotiating with three developers interested in three separate sections of the land. One wants to build a commercial development on Michigan Avenue between Park Street and the river. The other two want to build multi-family housing, including possible senior housing.Source: April McGrath, assistant city manager for YpsilantiWriter: Jon Zemke