Ann Arbor

Streetcars, BRT and commuter rail stations in Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is about to lay some serious tracks (pun intended) in its effort tom improve mass transit.The City Council will consider approving funds for the Ann Arbor Connector Feasibility Study - a study that would call for creating a crescent moon-shaped line for either streetcars or bus rapid transit system. It's also looking at announcing plans for a multi-modal mass transit station in the Wheeler Park parking lot."There are a variety of transportation needs that have made themselves known to us," says Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann Arbor. The crescent-shaped mass transit line would connect the Plymouth Road exit for U.S. 23 to downtown. It would also travel further south along South State Street to Briarwood Mall. The options for enhancing this service include improving bus service, creating a bus rapid transit system or putting in streetcars.City officials are also looking at possibly building a transit center near the University of Michigan Hospital campus that would service this transit line, the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line, bus service, pedestrian and bicyclists. This multi-million dollar project is still in its infancy. City officials are planning to build it at the Wheeler Park parking lot next to the Huron River, Border to Border Trail, Plymouth Road and U-M Hospital. Source: Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Federal clean-up money targets Ypsilanti’s Water Street property

ThreeFold Sensors raises VC cash, plans to hire in Ann Arbor

Within the next couple of years, ThreeFold Sensors plans on growing three fold ...in a couple of different ways . The Ann Arbor-based employs eight people and six independent contractors. It received $2.6 million in Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund money in 2007 to commercialize its sensor technology.Well, the company has been working on that for the last 18 months. It is at the tail end of closing on another $4.8 million in financing soon. Once that money comes in the firm expects to expand its staff to about 35 people."Once we raise that money we hope to raise the number of employees," says Richard Farkas, CEO of ThreeFold Sensors. ThreeFold Sensors, recently named one of Michigan's 50 Companies to Watch, was originally set up in 1992. Its commercial sensor technology is for medical diagnostic platform for point-of-care treatment. That means emergency room staff would use it to help assess a patients condition when time and information can be the most valuable. Farkas says ThreeFold Sensors' technology is 1,000 more sensitive and works much faster than what is in the market today. He thinks it could prove to be a "game-changer" when it hits the market in 2011.Source: Richard Farkas, CEO of ThreeFold SensorsWriter: Jon Zemke

Zaragon Place opens doors in Ann Arbor’s downtown

Ann Arbor's newest mid-rise --Zaragon Place-- is now open for business. The first tenants move in Friday.The 10-story building features 66 apartments in 100,000 square feet. The apartments sit above ground-floor retail space and about 40 underground parking spots on 619 East University, just north of East Quad. The new housing development is targeting students attending the University of Michigan's Central Campus across the street."Everything has gone great," says Rick Perlman, developer of Zaragon Place. "Leasing is going great."Zaragon Place is one the first in a new crop of luxury high-rise living options for students and young professionals in downtown Ann Arbor. 4Eleven Lofts recently opened at Division and Washington streets. A number of other projects are on the boards, too, including 601 S Forest and the University of Michigan's North Quad at State and Huron streets.Chicago-based Zaragon demolished the historic Anberay Apartments in 2007 to make way for Zaragon Place, originally called Zaragon Place Lofts. The 1920s-era apartment building housed 23 apartments in a classic U-shaped, Art Deco-style building. Students at the University of Michigan fondly called it Melrose Place.Source: Rick Perlman, developer of Zaragon PlaceWriter: Jon Zemke

DNA Software doubles staff in downtown Ann Arbor

DNA Software has been in Ann Arbor since 2000, but it really started to hit its stride just last year. That's when the downtown-based firm solidified its funding and doubled its staff to 15 people and a few independent contractors. It's also working to set up an internship program with local colleges. "We're working with the local talent to make a difference in Ann Arbor," says Jeff Machak, vice president of business development for DNA Software.The software company recently hired a Kalamazoo College graduate. Machak is even a Pfizer refugee that the company recently hired. It currently has a couple of job openings and is looking to hire a few more people by the end of the year.DNA Software creates software that simulates how drugs interact with the DNA of things like bacteria and pathogens. This DNA thermo-dynamics (technology spun off from Wayne State University) provide accurate diagnostic tests on bacteria that are used to help predict how maladies, such as those caused by flu, evolve."The Centers for Disease Control uses our technology to help predict some of these pandemics," Machak says.The company plans to use that technology for drug discovery in things like antibiotics. That way when dangerous bacteria mutates, DNA Software's technology could possibly have an antibiotic ready to handle it.Source: Jeff Machak, vice president of business development for DNA SoftwareWriter: Jon Zemke

Pacific Rim finishes expansion in downtown Ann Arbor

A storefront long known for Red Wing boots and Carhartt jackets is now home to Asian-influenced cuisine. It's all part of the expansion by Pacific Rim By Kana into the old Ehnis & Sons space.The storefront at 116 W. Liberty St. served as a blue-collar workers staple for much of the 20th Century before closing a few years ago. Pacific Rim, a pan-Asian restaurant, has served its customers next door for several years, too, before taking over the old Ehnis & Sons space last fall.Pacific Rim's owner, Duc Tang (pronounced Duke Tan), saw the opportunity to double his service space while adding amenities, such as a private dining room. Overall it added 45 more seats to the restaurant at an investment of about $250,000."We get quite a few requests for private dining functions," Tang says. "Having a bar completes the package for us so we can complete people's dining experience."He also plans to expand his restaurant's offerings. He is working on a small-plates inspired bar menu that will allow his business to remain open later.Source: Duc Tang, owner of Pacific Rim By KanaWriter: Jon Zemke

MedArray hires 2 in Ann Arbor, plans for 2010 hiring spree

2010 can't come soon enough for a lot of companies, including Ann Arbor's MedArray. The five-person firm recently hired an employee or two. It's also looking for a few more by the end of this year. But next year is when the membrane technology company plans to really break out when it ramps up commercialization of its newest product."We expect a bigger jump in terms of employment in 2010," says Scott Olson, vice president and general manager of MedArray. The circa 2000 firm has developed a silicone hollow fiber membrane that has a number of potential applications. They can range from helping prevent blood oxygenization technology from clotting to separating gases. "We think the units we have now can be used in a lot of different areas," Olson says.MedArray is in the early stages of commercializing the product right now. It expects to really ramp up that process by the end of this year. That should open the door to significant growth for the little firm based on Tree Town's south side in 2010.Source: Scott Olson, vice president and general manager of MedArrayWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor takes silver award as bicycle friendly community

The League of American Bicyclists stuck another feather in Ann Arbor's cap, naming it a silver-level 2009 Bicycle Friendly Communities. Tree Town garnered the award because of its consistent work ethic of improving conditions for bicyclists and investing in associated programs and facilities. This year featured an increase in the number of communities with new bike plans, but Ann Arbor was a ahead of the learning curve thanks to decades of work on behalf of bicyclists."There are so many reasons to use a bicycle as a primary mode of transportation," says Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the City of Ann Arbor. He ticked off a long list of those reasons, including a healthy lifestyle, pollution free transportation and availability of ample parking.What made Ann Arbor's application (prepared by interns at the city) stand out was its consistent addition of bike lanes, informational website, encouragement of bicycling through programs like getDowntown and how many people actually use a bicycle in Ann Arbor. Ten of 20 intersections counted in the city's bike data collection program have more than 300 cyclists over a 12 hour period. More than 7,500 cyclists have been counted in the city during the past three years, a steady increase over previous years. Source: Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the City of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

MASTERMIND: Myra Klarman

If Ann Arbor has a community photographer it's Myra Klarman. Not because she takes wonderfully vibrant snaps of kids and families (she does). Or because she's the official photographer for A2's Summer Festival. It's because she seems hellbent on capturing the spunk and soul of the city in projects like her blog, Relish.