2018 holds promise for Ann Arbor. There have been a lot of exciting announcements over the past month about the city’s future plans and business and housing developments. Get caught up on what’s happening in your town!
Off-Campus Housing Development Plans
While development sites like The Collegian North and The Yard on South Main are underway, there are plenty of more plans in the pipeline that could assist students in need of off-campus living. Here are three of them:
Plans have been submitted (not yet approved) to redevelop the building that currently holds Espresso Royale in the South University neighborhood. The development would come with a renovation of Espresso Royale including new basement seating. This remodel would also include a renovated office space on the second floor and three stories of apartments above that. Check out more details in this MLive article!
Mayor Christopher Taylor has stated in a conversation with MLive that he expects the development on the Library Lot property in Germantown to move forward after plans stalled in 2017. If plans do move forward in 2018, we can expect a 17-story mixed-use development containing retail space, offices, hotel space and ten floors of residential space. Some of the residential space would be allocated towards workforce housing for lower income residents in an effort to assist the development of affordable housing in downtown Ann Arbor. The full details for this plan can be found in this MLive overview.
Finally, a proposal is in the process to develop a mixed-use complex in the Elbel neighborhood near the Administrative Services Building by Michigan Stadium. The site currently holds housing and vacant property. This complex would include over 100 apartment spaces, bicycle and automobile parking, and retail space. It is expected that the project would finish in 2020 if it is approved in the next few months. You can check out the details of the this project in this MLive article.
Other Local Development Plans and News
Lyft is partnering with Metro Detroit Area non-profits and student organizations to provide $1,000 ride credits to support transportation needs. The program will provide these credits once a month to selected organizations that apply. More information on these credits is available on Lyft’s website.
Another restaurant is joining the already crowded market in Ann Arbor: The Standard Bistro and Larder. It is a French-style restaurant set to open late February located just outside Ann Arbor at 5827 Jackson Road. If you’re on a quest to find a new local restaurant, this one might be worth the trek.
If you’re looking for a new place to get exercise during your busy week, check out the new full-body rowing gym opening this spring: Cityrow. Started by Michigan graduate Helaine Knapp in New York City, Cityrow is expanding to Ann Arbor at 401 E. Liberty. This ideal location is close to campus and many off-campus neighborhoods.
Finally, an Ann Arbor cat café is celebrating its 500th cat adoption. Garvey was the 500th cat adopted from Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center, which opened over a year and a half ago at 5245 Jackson Road. A visit to Tiny Lions costs $7 an hour and gives you the opportunity to meet and cuddle plenty of kittens while they wait for adoption.
With lots of exciting developments happening in and around Ann Arbor, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for one of America’s finest college towns.
Contributed by Austin McCall, Neighborhood Ambassador- Elbel