Title
Resolution Calling for Increased Cooperation between the City and the University of Michigan in Planning for Redevelopment of the Wall Street Area
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor established goals for the Wall Street area in the Northeast Area Plan, emphasizing that University facilities would be developed in a manner that encourages pedestrian activity, complements the historic character of the area, provides access to the Huron River, offers attractive public open spaces, is well integrated with surrounding uses and contributes to the vitality of Lower Town;
Whereas, A primary approach to implementing many of the Northeast Area Plan’s recommendations is for the University of Michigan and City of Ann Arbor to establish a better working relationship on development, transportation, access and utility issues facing the Lower Town area;
Whereas, The University of Michigan’s plans to build two parking structures on their Wall Street property, each housing about 600 cars to provide parking for commuters as well as staff and patients of the clinics in addition to at least three other large buildings, forever changing the use and streetscape of the area while adding thousands of automobiles to the traffic mix;
Whereas, The University of Michigan has already invested in commuter lots and busses that could be expanded to serve the needs of commuter parking for the clinics to be built on Wall Street;
Whereas, The City and the University of Michigan have a common goal of reducing automobile trips into the core of the city to reduce congestion, air pollution and green house gas production;
Whereas, About 2000 Ann Arbor residents live adjacent to the property owned by the University of Michigan on Wall Street and they will be impacted by years of heavy construction and a significantly changed living environment;
Whereas, The University of Michigan’s plan for the Wall Street area is based on an older concept that could not have anticipated evolving regional tr...
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