Ann Arbor

Xchange Network turns napkin idea into Ann Arbor start-up

By Newsroom

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February 4, 2009

Xchange Network got its start in the most clichéd of places in 2002."It started on the back of a napkin at a local establishment," says Bill McManus, co-owner of Xchange Network. "One of the other partners made a prototype and it held, so we decided to formalize the company."That prototype is a software program that allows different computer systems to seamlessly speak to each other, allowing a maverick techie with Mac or Linux system to speak to his PC-based co-workers."The guys with the PCs, the crowd rules so the Mac is left out so to speak," McManus says.The Ann Arbor-based start-up has brought all of the original four founders into the start-up entrepreneur fold. What started out as their side project turned into their full-time jobs with enough work left over for a handful of independent contractors. The company is also looking at setting up an internship program.Xchange Network has about 20,000 users around the world in 25 countries. The firm wants to continue to grow that number but is concentrating on holding its own in the near term.Source: Bill McManus, co-owner of Xchange NetworkWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor businessman poised to lead state Republicans

By Newsroom

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General

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February 4, 2009

One of Ann Arbor’s own is set to take the reigns of Michigan’s Grand Old Party.Excerpt:Ann Arbor businessman and former ambassador Ron Weiser has a clear path to the Michigan Republican Party chairmanship, following Tuesday's withdrawal from the contest by his last challenger, former state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk.Hoogendyk, an unsuccessful challenger to U.S. Sen. Carl Levin last year, said in an e-mail to supporters: "I am writing today to announce my decision to withdraw from the race for party chairman. This comes after a great deal of careful consideration and discussion with close friends and family."I congratulate Ron Weiser for his strong and successful campaign. I wish him well in his new role as chairman and pledge to do what I can to help strengthen the party and deliver victory in 2010."Read the rest of the story here.

Stem cell expert: Proposal 2 will bring new opportunities to the University of Michigan

By Newsroom

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Education

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February 4, 2009

Stem cells are a hot topic of conversation in southeast Michigan, but this time its all about what kind of economic development opportunities they will create.Excerpt:One of the world's leading experts on human embryonic stem cell research says Michigan's newly relaxed climate for the cutting-edge work will lead to new scientific opportunities at the University of Michigan."I think it's a very important step," said Benjamin Reubinoff, a professor at Hadassah Hospital in Israel, in an interview after lecturing at U-M Wednesday. "I think it will really open new horizons for our collaboration with Michigan."Read the rest of the story here.

MASTERMIND: Britten Stringwell

By Jeff Meyers

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Arts & Culture

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February 4, 2009

Britten Stringwell sees a real hunger for artistic connection in Ann Arbor. The 25 year-old fashion designer and artist has immersed herself in the creative cultures of some of America's most progressive cities, and brought back ideas about how to build a creative community here. The result? The Yellow Barn. Never heard of it? Read on...

Border2Border

By Terry Parris Jr.

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

Imagine commuting by bike between Ypsi and Ann Arbor, along an idyllic trail, no motor vehicles in sight. How about Dexter? Or beyond? The Border To Border Trail is nearly that route. Almost 60% complete, this ambitious multi-use thoroughfare could offer more than just a nice ride along the river, it could become an alternative mode of transportation.

LED streetlights begin lighting downtown Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

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Development News

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February 4, 2009

Downtown Ann Arbor is getting brighter and brighter every day ...now that city officials are in the home stretch of installing the energy-efficient LED lights."We're more than halfway done," says Andrew Brix, spokesman for the Ann Arbor Energy Office.That means nearly 700 of the downtown's 1,100 streetlights have been relamped with LEDs. The remaining ones are set to be in by summer. The cost of replacing the incandescent bulbs with LEDs is pegged at $640,000. City officials expect to recoup those costs through electricity savings within 3.8 years.LED (short for light-emitting diode) lights are commonly used in traffic and tail lights. They require less than half of the energy of a normal incandescent light bulb and last five times the normal two-year lifespan of an incandescent. The city is also looking to start a pilot program to install LEDs in normal cobra-head streetlights in neighborhoods. The $100,000 pilot project will occur in a student neighborhood."It will happen this year," Brix says. "Realistically, I think late summer is when it could happen."Source: Andrew Brix, spokesman for the Ann Arbor Energy OfficeWriter: Jon Zemke

Retail grows at Plymouth Green Crossings

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

Businesses are snatching up leases in Ann Arbor's Plymouth Green Crossings and now the developer is working to make that possible for people who want to live there, too.About two-thirds of the 24,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space is occupied. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea and Umi Sushi recently joined Olga's restaurant, Ink Stop and Fifth Third Bank in the development on Ann Arbor's northeast side.The development's location on a 10-acre parcel of land at Plymouth and Green roads between U.S. 23 and the old Pfizer site has played a key role in making that success possible. It is within a few driving minutes of downtown Ann Arbor, Domino's Farms, University of Michigan and the Toyota Technical Center."The retail portion is doing really, really well," says Julie Svinicki, real-estate agent for Plymouth Green Crossings.Sales aren't going so well for the 23 lofts above the businesses in the development's two main 3-story buildings. The development began sales just as the real-estate market started to crash and credit lines began to crunch. So even though there have been offers on some of the units, none have sold.That has prompted the developer to look at switching the development from for-sale to possible for-lease or a combination of the two. Other high-end developments in Metro Detroit have also made the switch, including The Fifth Royal Oak high-rise and The District Lofts in Birmingham.The lofts range in size from 1,400 to 1,900 square feet and will be elevator accessible. Those units come with amenities such as open floor plans, balconies and storage space. Each unit will have access to a detached garage with attic storage space above the carport.Plymouth Green has a number of environmentally friendly features. Six of the project's 10 acres are devoted to open green space. The units also include green amenities, such as bamboo floors, Freon free AC, carpet made from recycled material, Low-E windows and Energy Star appliances.For information on the project, call Svinicki at (734) 358-7700.Source: Julie Svinicki, real-estate agent for Plymouth Green CrossingsWriter: Jon Zemke

Michigan Eye Bank moves into new Ann Arbor space

By Newsroom

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Health

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February 4, 2009

Michigan Eye Bank has called Ann Arbor home since 1957, so it's no wonder why its choosing to expand in Tree Town."This is where we are established to do business," says Dan Reynolds, communications manager for the Michigan Eye Bank.The division of Midwest Eye Bank, also headquartered in Ann Arbor, is growing into an extra 6,400 square feet of space and hiring 11 more people this month.The eye bank is moving its administrative offices into the new space on Avis Driver. This will make room for a call center and base for logistics and screening of tissue donation. That space currently serves as the work center for the non-profit's 50 employees.The eye bank is dedicated to helping restoring sight by recovering, evaluating and distributing human eye tissue for transplantation. This is becoming increasingly in demand as the technological advances makes it more widely available."There is always a demand for transplantation of eye tissue similar to organ donation," Reynolds says.Source: Dan Reynolds, communications manager for the Michigan Eye BankWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor’s Cobblestone Farm gets new floor with renovation

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

Ann Arbor's Historic Cobblestone Farm is getting a new floor but staying the same height.The Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Department is installing a new floor in Buhr Park's signature barn off Eisenhower Road. Gone is the old pine floor that had worn down to practically nothing, according to city officials."We're just tearing out the old floor and putting a new one in," says Jessica Black, Special Events Coordinator and Facility Supervisor for the farm. The project is expected to take the rest of the month to complete. In the mean time Park & Recreation Dept.'s Customer Service Center is holding up in a temporary space elsewhere in Buhr Park.Source: Jessica Black Special Events Coordinator and Facility Supervisor for Ann Arbor's Historic Cobblestone FarmWriter: Jon Zemke

Video The Leslie Science Center

By Keith Jefferies

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Community Development

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February 4, 2009

Ann Arbor is well known for its natural spaces but the Leslie Science Center offers a uniquely up close and personal view of the critters that live in those spaces. Set on 50 acres of prairie and woods just five minutes from the city's downtown, you'll find eagles, snapping turtles and snakes. Oh, my!