With the hands-on efforts of a student team from the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, a pair of iterations of the potential Eastside Recreation Center on Ypsilanti's Water Street parcel is taking form. The undeveloped parcel is sited on the south side of Michigan Avenue, across the Huron River from downtown Ypsilanti. A linear park and Border to Border Trail extension along the Huron are also planned for the site. Both conceptual designs are roughly the same size, 60-65,000 square feet spread over two-and-a-half stories, but one has a square footprint, the other linear, according to Coy Vaughn, deputy director of administration for the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission. "We're trying different ways to make sure the building best fits the site that we're dealing with. There are certain goals the city has as far as maintaining their street frontage, consistent with what's already downtown, so we're putting the building up close to Michigan Avenue. And they want something pedestrian-friendly that entices people to continue walking, because long-term they envision extending the retail and commercial uses further to the east. So we're trying to fill that gap, make sure that for someone walking downtown there's a reason to cross the river to get to the remaining retail," says Vaughn. Interior amenities include a gymnasium, a pool with a zero-depth entry and lap-swimming section, fitness and cardio rooms, a possible child-watch area, a reception area with a juice bar, and indoor track; "similar uses to what we have in our existing Meri Lou Murray Rec Center, but we see this as being a little more family-friendly, a little more youth-oriented," adds Vaughn. The center, roughly budgeted at $12 million, would cover about eight acres of the 38-acre Water Street parcel. If funded and approved, the work could start in 2015, Vaughn says. "We're hoping this public investment will attract some private investment in the area, some developers, and hopefully ultimately a build out with both commercial-residential, mixed-use type development." Scale models of both concepts will be on display at Ypsilanti's SPARK East at 215 W. Michigan Avenue beginning on Monday, Sept. 24. The student design team will present proposals and solicit feedback from the community at an open house there on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 3-8 p.m. Source: Coy Vaughn, deputy director of administration, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
