Ann Arbor

200 entrepreneurs reach out to Ann Arbor SPARK this year

By Newsroom

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August 5, 2009

About 200 entities, think singular or a pair of entrepreneurs, have reached out to Ann Arbor SPARK so far this year about creating their own start-ups, and that type of contact is expected to continue.Thirty three of those 200 ideas for new companies are actually starting the process of coming to fruition with Ann Arbor SPARK. They are taking advantage of the business accelerator's resources to develop, fundraise, prototype, license, or commercialize their products or services.The 200 contacts are a modest increase from years before as the 4-year-old economic development agency starts to gain traction from its years of community outreach. Many of them come from a combination of Ann Arbor SPARK's outreach events or referrals with other partnering organizations, such as the University of Michigan's Business Engagement Center, Tech Brewery, and TechArb, among others. "SPARK has been around," says Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and communications with Ann Arbor SPARK. One of the big draws for growing these businesses is SPARK's renowned Entrepreneur's Boot Camp. It has run 15 of these weekend business cram sessions so far and has another set for this fall. About 15 start-ups attend each boot camp, with 225 participants to date. Of those, 181 have gone on to employ 662 people and garner $19 million in funding.Source: Elizabeth Parkinson, vice president of marketing and communications with Ann Arbor SPARKWriter: Jon Zemke

A2D2: Evolution Or Status Quo?

By Jon Zemke

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

Faced with a citywide population decline, determined Ann Arborites are looking for ways to attract more residents to make a truly bustling 24/7 downtown. Historically, developers and urban fans have had to battle with fractious city factions and, now, a proposed cap on building heights. See whether A2D2 (Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown), the latest initiative to reform downtown's zoning and architectural guidelines, can get the city over these stumbling blocks.

Ann Arbor scores $850,000 grant to deal with foreclosures

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

Ann Arbor's slice of the foreclosure-crisis funds isn't small - $850,000.The money comes from the federal government as part of its Neighborhood Stabilization Program. It's supposed to help local communities deal with the fallout of the foreclosure crisis, such as vacant homes and blighted property. Ann Arbor plans to use its money to acquire and rehab foreclosed structures, demolish ones that are too far gone, and help first-time home buyers purchase their first home.The city gave Habitat for Humanity $245,000 to build or rehab affordable housing. Another $200,000 is going to rehab rental properties. About $50,000 will go for demolition of structures that are too far gone, such as those that are burned down -- and yes, there are some in Ann Arbor. Another $270,000 will go towards home-buyer education.For information on the home buyer aspect, call (734) 997-1678 to register for home buyer education classes.Source: Jennifer Hall, housing manager for the Office of Community Development for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw CountyWriter: Jon Zemke

City Council to decide on Near North, building moratorium

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

Some big discussions and decisions are on tap for the Ann Arbor City Council once the dust settles from the City Council primary.At the top of the docket of this Thursday's meeting is the first of what appears to be many appearances of the Near North development. Following will be discussion and a possible decision on a downtown building moratorium.Near North will undergo its first rezoning hearing, basically an announcement to the community that the project is close to becoming a reality. Before the developer can start construction, however, at least one more month must pass. Afterward, it will undergo another public reading before the council can approve the rezoning and then the project itself.The Near North proposal calls for a mixed-use, 4-story, 40-unit apartment building on Main Street, just south of Summit Street. It will stand about as tall as the surrounding housing and come with a small greenspace and a surface parking lot just north of the building. The Summit Party Store at Main and Summit streets would remain, but could be incorporated into the project further down the line.The Three Oaks Group is working with Avalon Housing to create affordable homes in the downtown area with this project. About 65 percent of these apartments would be set aside for entry level workforce and for households earning less than $33,000. Think of the restaurant workers and recent college grads who work or want to live near downtown but are often forced to find housing outside the city or in student rentals because of cost and availability. The other 35 percent will be set aside for permanent supportive housing for people who are homeless or have disabilities.The building would replace five single-family houses lining Main Street and the Summit Party Store. However, it will go for gold level LEED certification with such big-ticket items like geothermal heating and cooling systems and green roofs. It would also incorporate a modern design. The pending building moratorium resolution basically calls for a ban on approval of new construction projects in the downtown area until A2D2 is resolved. City Council could decide this on Thursday.Source: Wendy Rampson, city planner for Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Washtenaw County moves toward establishing land bank

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

The Washtenaw County Land Bank is about to become a reality within the next few weeks. The county treasurer, Catherine McClary, is pushing the paperwork forward to make it official by September. Properties could be put back on tax rolls as early as October.Land banks are becoming the governmental tool du jour to handle blighted and abandoned buildings remaining from the foreclosure crisis. Genesee County has turned its land bank into a nationally recognized tool to right-size the shrinking metropolitan Flint area. It is advising Washtenaw County on setting up its own land bank.The new land bank will host two public meetings in September on what type of policies it will employ and how it will be incorporated. It will carry a seven-member board that will create the bylaws, articles of incorporation and policies in September.The board will include the Washtenaw County Treasurer and Sheriff, a representative from the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, the mayors of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the supervisor of Ypsilanti Township, and the supervisor of one of the county's western townships.Source: Catherine McClary, Washtenaw County TreasurerWriter: Jon Zemke

EPA praises Ann Arbor for sustainable energy usage

By Newsroom

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Development News

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August 5, 2009

It almost seems like Ann Arbor's hat is about to run out of room for any more feathers these days, especially after the EPA has recognized the city for its sustainable energy efforts.Tree Town made the new Top 20 On-site Green Power Users List from the EPA. The City annually generates almost 9 million kilowatt-hours of biogas, hydro and solar power. That equates to about 20 percent of its electricity use and 12.5 percent of energy for its entire municipal operations.And that's just from last year. The city expects to bring in even more from iis sustainable operations this year. It's also looking at purchasing alternative energy (wind power anyone?) later this year to help power the city's everyday operations."I would say most cities are 1-2 percent," says Andrew Brix, energy programs manager for the city of Ann Arbor.There are local exceptions to the rule like Grand Rapids, Taylor, and Wayndotte. However, none of those cities are pushing the renewable energy envelope quite as hard as Ann Arbor.Source: Andrew Brix, energy programs manager for the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Tolle on the Totter: Newspapers

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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August 5, 2009

An interesting conversation about what should have happened at The Ann Arbor News is held on a teeter totter.Excerpt:[Ed. note: The consultancy operated by BT, which is mentioned below, is The Tolle Group. Other entities mentioned below: The Ann Arbor Chronicle and The Workantile Exchange.] HD: Let's climb aboard. BT: [laugh] It takes me back to--who's going first? HD: Well, you know it's a collaborative endeavor. BT: I like this view. The street is so great. HD: It's not bad. [Photography ensues. HD encounters problems with the high-tech camera.] BT: Technology is not my strong suit. HD: Oh, that's not true, I know that for a fact. Well, I think I know that for a fact. So, welcome to the teeter totter! BT: Thanks, Dave. Read the rest of the story here.

Allen Creek Preschool expands in 2 phases

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 5, 2009

It appears that Allen Creek Preschool is growing almost as fast as the youngsters it watches over.The Ann Arbor-based school is in the midst of a two-phase expansion. The school bought an adjacent property that allowed it to double its acreage, bring another building into its fold, and provide ample space to add onto its first building."It will allow us to offer more programs to a wider variety of families," says Kerry Kelly Novick, co-founder and teacher of Allen Creek Preschool.The school opened in 1994 and built its current 3,000-square-foot home in 1996. Its three classrooms, office space and great hall handle 40-50 kids daily. It sits on about an acre of land at 2350 Miller Ave. "And of course we have outgrown that," Novick says.The first phase of the expansion included buying another acre of adjacent land and the small house that sits on it. The $300,000 project is turning the small house into space for its 0-3 age group and community outreach. Work is expected to wrap it up in January. The second phase, expected to begin next year or in 2011, will add another 2,000 square feet to the school's original building.Source: Kerry Kelly Novick, co-founder and teacher of Allen Creek PreschoolWriter: Jon Zemke

New U-M football practice facility set to open in August

By Newsroom

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Development News

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July 29, 2009

The University of Michigan's newest football facility is getting ready to open, and no, it's not Michigan Stadium.The storied football program plans to open the new Al Glick Field House next month. The old practice facility, Oosterbaan Field House, will be used by a number of the university's other varsity and intramural teams. Those teams, such as women's softball team, already use the facility from dawn to dusk when the football team isn't using it."Frankly, they need that facility," says Bruce Madej, spokesman for the U-M Athletic Dept.The new $26.1 million facility measures approximately 104,000 square feet, making it big enough for a full-size football field, lobby, restrooms and storage space. The renovation also includes about 3,000 square feet in Schembechler Hall. Jickling Lyman Powell Associates designed the project, which is being paid for the athletic department and private donations.The building is named after Al Glick, an ardent follower of Michigan sports and generous benefactor. His family owns Alro Steel Corp and raised $8.7 million for the facility. The family has also supported the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital.Source: Bruce Madej, spokesman for the U-M Athletic DeptWriter: Jon Zemke

Expanded and renovated morgue opens at U-M

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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July 29, 2009

Washtenaw County has a newer and bigger facility for you to "bring out iyour dead," now that the University of Michigan Health System has renovated and expanded its morgue.U-M and the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner partnered on the $1.35 million project. The newly expanded facility should double the number of autopsies (600) that university and county staff handle annually. Among the extras at the new facility are double the autopsy tables (4) and a special autopsy room that can contain odors or infectious diseases. A new obersevation room for police and students was also added, along with extra body storage space for up to 25 corpses. The morgue is also brighter, offers more storage and is more secure. All of this was done thanks of a redesign. No extra square footage was added. However, the redesign does facilitate more basic ergonomically friendly features, such as the easier to move bodies in and out of the facility. Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke