415 West Washington

The City of Ann Arbor has issued a Request for Proposal (download RFP) for 415 West Washington. Ron Suarez, Ann Arbor City Councilman, is committed to having 415 West Washington become a cultural center. This real estate could be the last chance to offer Ann Arbor artists and musicians a space that would act as a commons to provide a shared performance and meeting space, in addition to creating the possibility of affordable studio space and housing for artists and musicians. Such as space could even be used as meeting space for small businesses during the earlier hours of the day, while artists and musicians could make use of the space during later hours. The Neutral Zone has created a wonderful “commons” for teenagers. Now we have a chance to create a Neutral Zone for grownups!

Stayed tuned for lots of info from various community members about how 415 West Washington can support local artists, improve our quality of life, promote downtown, encourage start-up businesses, create world peace and put an end to hunger and disease.

Check out what the people in Hoboken, New Jersey do to promote the arts in their city at the Monroe Center and look at their blog. I’d hate to think that Ann Arbor, the center of the universe as we know it, cannot compete with New Jersey!

Here are a few questions to be pursued:

• How many square feet are in the structures?
• How many parking spots are currently available?
• How much could parking revenue help fund a “Commons” space for the public?
• Could and should parking be increased to generate more revenue?

MEMORANDUM

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Susan Pollay, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority

Date: August 20, 2007

Re: Resolution Shaping a DDA / City Partnership to Temporarily Secure the 415
West Washington Site

In late June, in anticipation of the City vacating operations at the City maintenance facility site located at 415 W. Washington, DDA and City staff met to discuss the issues related to securing the building against vandalism. There is a clear understanding that City Council and the community need sufficient time to debate the optimal future use of this site, and to date, no RFP deadline has been established which would indicate when
the building may be reoccupied in the future.

The shape of the building blocks ready visibility into the interior courtyard and the blighted appearance of the building suggests that it has been abandoned. Assessing these conditions, DDA and City staff came to a shared recommendation that one way to lessen potential vandalism during this transition phase would be to activate the interior surface area with as much public use as possible, such as parking. A second advantage to providing interim public parking on this site would be that revenues could be generated to defray the cost to secure the building and pay the ongoing expenses to maintain lighting and landscaping.

The idea was presented by staff to the DDA Operations Committee which discussed the concept in detail. They indicated potential support for moving forward with the idea but only if it were clear that this use was temporary and not intended to suggest any future use for the site. This concept then was presented to the full DDA board who reinforced the committee concern about the temporary nature of any parking arrangement. At the July 2007 DDA meeting a resolution was approved which asks for direction from City Council, before directing DDA staff to pursue the idea further.

Thus the attached resolution is presented before City Council tonight, which if approved would direct the DDA to develop a plan for temporary public parking at the 415 West Washington site. The components of this plan would be presented to the City Administrator no later than the middle of September for further direction or approval.

Submitted by: Susan Pollay, DDA Executive Director
Approved by: Roger Fraser, City Administrator

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RESOLUTION SHAPING A DDA / CITY PARTNERSHIP TO TEMPORARILY SECURE
THE 415 WEST WASHINGTON STREET SITE

Whereas, City staff and operations have vacated the 415 W. Washington Street maintenance facility site;

Whereas, There is a need to temporarily secure 415 W. Washington Street against vandalism to allow City Council and the community time to debate its optimal future use;

Whereas, DDA and City staff have assessed the site and recommend that the best way to minimize damage to the site during this transition phase would be to activate the interior surface parking area with a public use such as public parking to provide regular “eyes and ears” for this secluded section of the building;

Whereas, Providing interim public parking on this site could also defray the cost to secure the building and pay the ongoing expenses to maintain lighting and landscaping on this site until a City Council decision is made regarding its future use;

Whereas, The DDA approved a resolution indicating potential support for moving forward with partnering with the City on the creation of public parking on this site with two significant issues to be addressed:
This use must be communicated clearly as being temporary in nature, and is not in any way intended to suggest any future use for the site. City Council must agree with this temporary use, and provides direction to the
DDA to develop plans for temporary public parking on this site.

RESOLVED, City Council agrees to allow temporary public parking on the 415 West Washington site with the purpose of activating the site during an interim phase until a Council decision is made about the future reuse of the property.

RESOLVED, The DDA is requested to formulate specific details for temporary parking on the 415 West Washington site no later than September 14, 2007 for review and approval by the City Administrator.

Submitted by: Downtown Development Authority
Date: August 20, 2007

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