Wednesday, January 15, 2014

It's a business-lined street. It's a fast lane road. It's two good ideas combined into one terrible outcome. While Metro Detroit is filled with stroads, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are far from immune. Ahem, wwe're looking at you Plymouth Rd, Washtenaw Ave and part of Stadium Avenue.

Learn what a stroad is by clicking here. For more analysis click here.

Arts and Culture

Nomadic artist inspired by Ann Arbor

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: The Metro Times

Helen Gotlib lives the snowbird life in reverse. During the winter she nests in Ann Arbor's wintery climate then come summer hits the road, traveling from one ARt Fair to the next.

Excerpt:

"A graduate of the University of Michigan’s art school, Gotlib studied printmaking and medical illustration, and landed a gig doing medical illustrations for an orthopedic news publication. She decided the commercial art thing wasn’t for her and decided to take a swing at being a full-time fine artist.

“My last semester, [my boyfriend and I] said, ‘Wouldn’t it be kinda cool to just go around the country and just do art fairs for a summer?’” Gotlib says. “So we did that and we were like, ‘Oh, wait, we can actually make a living doing that,’ and, 10 years later, that’s still what we’re doing.”"

Read the rest here.

Arts and Culture

Michigan Daily columnist urges students to explore region

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

It's too easy for students at the University of Michigan to get trapped in the Ann Arbor bubble. Michigan Daily Columnist Alexander Hermann wants them to burst it and explore everything Metro Detroit has to offer, ranging from enjoying Middle Eastern food in Dearborn to tracking down award-winning breweries in Oakland and Macomb counties. Excerpt: “Fortunately, the city of Dearborn, with the highest concentrated Arab American community in the United Sates, is just forty minutes east of Ann Arbor. The crucial stop is Shatila Bakery on Warren Avenue that serves Middle Eastern pastries, cakes, coffee and even its own brand of ice cream. From there, you can simply just Yelp your way to Lebanese food better than anything served in Ann Arbor. That strategy paid off for my last time in Dearborn, as I enjoyed Al-Ameer restaurant leftovers, just a couple blocks from Shatila, for days after eating there for the first time over break.” Read the rest of it here.

Healthy Communities

Gym America to expand size, staff in new $2 million facility

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Claudia Kretschmer, Gym America

Gym America is a pretty unique business, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that the growing gymnastics training facility couldn't quite find the right building to expand into among existing properties for sale in the area. Rather than settle, owner Claudia Kretschmer decided to not only build new in order to serve the 200 kids on the Gym America waiting list but to expand into new programming.

"We currently hold 700 at capacity here," says Kretschmer. "We'll be able to take at least our waiting list, which has been pretty steady throughout the past year."

The $2 million, 19,000 square foot facility will be built on State St. and Hines Dr. in Pittsfield Twp. The location was perfect, says Kretschmer as it is near their current facility and will provide room for the numerous changes that will come along with the business' move. In addition to taking on students on her waiting list, she'll add dance classes, a pre-school activity area, retail space, a pre-school and more.

"It will be a certified preschool, teaching movement, language and music," Kretschmer says. "They'll be using both sides of the brain. There won't be anything electronic, it will all be using creativity and using their minds in a different way."

Work on the new Gym America building in the spring, and Kretschmer hopes to open the doors to the new facility by Thanksgiving. She expects the number of children served to jump from 700 to at least 1,000, and will hire 15 to 20 new staff members to accommodate the additional kids and programming.

Source: Claudia Kretschmer, Gym America Writer: Natalie Burg

Arts and Culture

Jolly Pumkin gets new facility in Dexter, to add a taproom

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin

The forthcoming null Taphouse at the Jolly Pumpkin facility in Dexter has been a long time coming.

"Ever since Lori and I opened Jolly Pumpkin we wanted to have a tasting room in the brewery," says owner Ron Jeffries. "We opened with a ridiculous shoestring budget, and then we kind of went back and forth over the next ten years of having either not enough space or money at the time."

After moving into a new, 70,000 square foot facility last year, the time is finally right for that vision to be fulfilled. A 5,000 square foot space in the building will be dedicated to the taproom and tasting area, the plans for which are still under development. One thing Jeffries knows for sure is that it will come together with the input of their customers.

"We always want to get our fans involved," Jeffries says. "We want them to have the opportunity to participate in building out the taproom."

To support the project, customers can join a number of "clubs" by donating funds in exchange for different ways to be a part of the project, such as sponsoring a booth or having their name included on a wall.

The null Taphouse will serve beer tastings, light snacks and possibly sandwiches, include seating, and will also host tours. Jeffries says customers often stop by the facility, and he's looking forward to being able to give them the opportunity to look around. An additional five to ten employees will initially be hired to staff the business. Though progress will depend on a number of factors, he hopes the taproom will be open to the public by early summer.

Source: Ron Jeffries, Jolly Pumpkin Writer: Natalie Burg

Economic Development

More than 170 homes included in Scio Twp. development proposal

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Mark Smith, property owner

More than 170 new houses could be built on a Scio Township property if a proposal is approved later this month. Property owner Mark Smith says the project would bring residential infill development that could help stave off suburban sprawl.

"It's a great location," Smith says of the W. Liberty Rd. property. "You're five minutes to downtown, you're two minutes to the freeway and half an hour to the airport. Going all the way back to when Scio Twp. had a master plan, it always called for this area to be developed in low density housing."

Smith and his wife have been working to develop the 162-acre property for decades, with plans for golf course and single family housing falling through for various reasons. Now, however, he believes the time is right and the property well-suited for housing.

"It's been in my wife's family for a long time," says Smith. "We live on this property, and it is near and dear to our hearts, and it's a great location relative to the city."

The proposed development would ultimately include 176 houses, though some of those homes already exist on the property. Plans include lots of various sizes, including space for what Smith calls "traditional suburban" homes, and others for transitional neighborhood developments, such as multi-generational and smaller homes.

A developer has yet to be selected as the Smiths await approval from Scio Township to move forward later in January. He expects the total amount of investment in the project to be in the tens of millions of dollars, and hopes, should all approvals be given, to begin site work this fall and break ground on housing in 2015.

Source: Mark Smith, property owner Writer: Natalie Burg

Arts and Culture

Pierre Paul Design adds more art, services in new Washtenaw Ave. space

Natalie BurgWednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Lee Gilles, Pierre Paul Design

Pierre Paul Design has moved to a new home just a brief walk away from its former Washtenaw Ave. location. Though the distance may be small, in all other ways, the move was a big one. The new storefront, which was the former home of a PNC Bank branch in the Arlington Square Shopping Center, is 800 square feet larger than the previous Pierre Paul space, is on the first floor rather than second, and is much more visible to passersby.

"We needed more room," says Pierre Paul owner Lee Gilles. "We were more a destination business before. We're now more of a standard retail store, but everything here is connected to original art."

In addition to adding room, Pierre Paul Design has introduced new inventory, services and partnerships since the Dec. 21 move. The retail space now offers interior design services to the public, and includes a growing variety of original gifts under $100. Among the new inventory are wares from local organizations, such as the Arbor Opera Theater and Cleary University, that will be sold to support the non-profits.

"It's a win-win situation," says Gilles. "We're reaching out to community organizations that are connected to the arts to raise money for them, and they bring us unique products to sell."

With a highly visible storefront and more traditional retail offerings, Gilles is expanding his hours and business days to mirror the nearby Arbor Hills Crossing. He plans to expand his four-person staff by at least three to accommodate the new seven-day schedule and later hours.

Source: Lee Gilles, Pierre Paul Design Writer: Natalie Burg

Economic Development

IT firm Systems in Motion hires 65, aims to hire 110 more

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Systems in Motion is an IT services firm that doesn't do off-shoring. In fact, it doesn't even have an off-shore presence. The California-based company is focused on performing IT work in the good, old USA. "The IT industry is starting to get focused on domestic sourcing," says Colin Chapman, vice president & general manager of Systems in Motion. "The easy stuff to take off shore has been taken off shore." And Systems in Motion's growing delivery center in Ann Arbor is the main beneficiary. The satellite office opened in 2009 and has grown to a 200-person outfit with the help of Ann Arbor SPARK. A total of 300 people work at Systems in Motion. The firm has hired 65 people in Ann Arbor over the last year for a broad range of positions, such as software engineers, data developers and project managers. It currently has 35 open jobs. The company expects to hire 150 overall in 2014, including 110 in Ann Arbor. Systems in Motion specializes in application development, information management and testing services. It uses an Agile software development methodology, which makes the creation of software viable through a system of incremental improvements. "We understand the industry well," Chapman says. "We're well-prepared to take advantage of the industry's growth overall." Source: Colin Chapman, vice president & general manager of Systems in Motion Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Economic Development

Logic Solutions hires 6 as it builds out software products

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Logic Solutions likes to find interns at the University of Michigan. The tech firm currently has four U-M student interns who are pursuing environmental and computer engineering degrees. "My goal is to hire at least two of these interns," says Bruce Richardson, president of Logic Solutions. That would go with the six people Logic Solutions has hired over the last year. Those hires include a senior-level technical architect, product manager and a marketing director. Logic Solutions is leveraging that new talent to continue the build out of its software. The Ann Arbor-based firm makes custom software programs and mobile apps. It has also been working on developing its own software platforms, such as its Showcase mobile sales app for iPads. Richardson expects sales of that to gain significantly in 2014. He also has some big expectations for its Quantum Compliance software platform. The software helps businesses implement and maintain compliance with Environmental Health & Safety standards. Logic Solutions acquired the company that created the Quantum Compliance software a couple of years ago and Richardson is looking for it to play a major part in Logic Solutions’ growth this year. "We anticipate the revenue from that will triple in 2014," Richardson says. "If I am a betting man, I would bet that this is where the bulk of our growth will come from in 2014." Source: Bruce Richardson, president of Logic Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Arts and Culture

Weinreich Labs aims to release app for violin musicians

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Weinreich Labs got its start creating a violin that produces heirloom quality music when amplified or recorded. The Ann Arbor-based firm is still working on that technology but is pivoting into the mobile app space to help grow the business faster. Weinreich Labs plans to release a mobile app by the end of this month. The app aims to work as a digital museum for fine violins. It will provide a history of a wide range of stringed instruments and in-depth photo galleries with pictures of such high resolutions that the user can tell what type of varnish is on the instrument. "Choosing an instrument is a huge thing for a classical violinist," says Alex Sobolev, CEO of Weinreich Labs. "Some people will choose one violin and use it for the rest of their life. Some people will change violins often to find different sounds." The 3-year-old firm is producing the mobile app as a way to start generating revenue. The app will retail for $0.99 for its simplest version and a $15 annual subscription for its most detailed version. "We see this as a better avenue for generating some revenue immediately," Sobolev says. Weinreich Labs still is working on its original technology. That technology gives a violin the ability to amplify an acoustic sound (think stereo speakers) without feedback or loss of tonal character, problems that have long plagued the music industry. Sobolev says the firm is working on a version that comes with a foot pedal and an iPad component so musicians and producers can work with the music in a more detailed manner. The firm has hired one person (a mbile app developer) over the last year. It currently employs five people. Source: Alex Sobolev, CEO of Weinreich Labs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Technology and Innovation

VC Web Design rebrands, hires and moves to new home

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

It's been a busy year for VC Web Design. The Ypsilanti-based website development company has hired a handful of new employees and moved to a newer and bigger office. It is also gearing up to rebrand itself in the next month as Visual Compass Web Design. VC Web Design got its start four years ago and was the first graduate of Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator. Its first projects consisted of building up the online presence for local companies and organizations. It has grown to a staff of 14 people after hiring four employees over the last year. Those new positions include graphic designers, sales/business development and marketing. VC Web Design first real office was a retail space in downtown Ypsilanti shortly after it graduated from Ann Arbor SPARK East. Last summer it moved to a larger office (700 square feet to 1,000 square feet) in Depot Town a few doors down from Aubree's. The firm made the move to help accommodate its growth and choose a ground floor retail space to help further its business. "The move was as much for the location as it was for the space," says Vince Chmielewski, president of VC Web Design, adding the increased foot traffic and visibility helps drive up business. "Having a presence helps us," he adds. VC Web Design is growing thanks to its expanding portfolio of work developing websites, videos and web applications. It has been doing videos for Eastern Michigan University about the university’s research efforts. Much of VC Web Design’s web applications work is creating apps for businesses to use in-house, such as new websites and web applications for Knights Steakhouse in Ann Arbor. "We're doing a lot more projects like that," Chmielewski says. "Part of it is the Agile process we use. People seem to like that." Source: Vince Chmielewski, president of VC Web Design Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Technology and Innovation

Ann Arbor-based 3.7 Designs absorbs Meadow Fete

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor-based 3.7 Designs recently acquired another firm but not in the way these sorts of transaction usually happen. The 9-year-old website development firm absorbed Meadow Fete last September after 3.7 Designs founder, Ross Johnson, married Meadow Fete’s founder, Lyndsay Johnson. The newly combined firms are now working under the 3.7 Designs banner in downtown Ann Arbor. The company now employs three people, a couple of independent contractors and the occasional intern. The firm is also looking to hire two developers to handle the front-end and back-end of web development so the Johnsons can handle more managerial tasks. "We're doing a lot of the work these days," Ross Johnson says. "We want to work on the product side of the company." 3.7 Designs started out building websites and evolved to offering marketing and upkeep services for its websites. Recently it has moved to building out software for things like training modules. The firm is looking to move away from the marketing aspect of the business and more toward the software creation. The firm has two software projects in the works for 2014. The first is a project management tool that helps users track the progress of a project. The Johnsons are keeping the second one under wraps. Source: Ross Johnson, web strategist of 3.7 Designs Writer: Jon Zemke

Economic Development

FlexSys adds to staff to develop new tech in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Source: Concentrate

FlexSys thinks it can save as much as 5 percent on your plane's jet fuel with its new technology. The Ann Arbor-based tech firm is launching its FlexFoil, a variable geometry airfoil. That technology would replace the wing flaps on a jet by making the wings one piece of metal. FlexFoil is a deformable, seamless surface that changes shape for optimized performance throughout the flight regime saving jet fuel. You can watch a video about the technology here. "We can get at least 5 percent fuel savings," says Sridhar Kota, founder of FlexSys. "It is easy to implement and you can have a payback (in jet fuel savings) in two years." Kota is a professor of engineering at the University of Michigan. He started FlexSys in 2001 after noticing how many man-made objects are strong and rigid, but how most things in nature are strong and flexible. FlexSys' products have included from helicopters windshield wipers blades and wind turbine technology. FlexSys currently employs a dozen people. It hired a University of Michigan engineering graduate last year to help round out its staff. Source: Sridhar Kota, founder of FlexSys Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Feature Story

Economic Development

Guest Blogger: Joan Lowenstein

Joan LowensteinWednesday, January 8, 2014

Some Ann Arbor residents believe that downtown development is a financial drain on surrounding neighborhoods. Not so, according to Ann Arbor DDA board member Joan Lowenstein, who opines on why downtown betterments are not a zero-sum game.

Feature Story

Community Development

Exit Interview Part One: Mayor John Hieftje

Patrick DunnWednesday, January 8, 2014

As Ann Arbor's longest serving mayor John Hieftje has been instrumental in establishing what our community is today and helping chart what it'll become tomorrow. In a two-part interview Concentrate chats with the out-going city leader about his achievements and frustrations, final plans and hopes for the future.

Partner Content

Community Development

50 years, 50 stories: Community Health ClinicsAnn Arbor Area Community Foundation

Ann Arbor Area Community FoundationWednesday, January 8, 2014

Washtenaw County is fortunate to have a number of community health clinics that are committed to providing access to quality health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Over the years, nearly $600,000 in grant support from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and its donors have helped these clinics expand and maintain critical services.

Economic Development

Ann Arbor app developer makes Forbes' "30 Under 30"

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Forbes

Jesse Vollmar is the co-founder and CEO of Ann Arbor-based FarmLogs, software that helps farmers with risk management by monitoring crops, weather and business variables. Its product is used in every state of the U.S. and over 120 countries worldwide. He's one of Forbes entrepreneurs to watch.

Excerpt:

"Vollmar grew up on his family's fifth-generation farm in Michigan and started a successful IT consulting business with classmate Brad Koch while still in high school. "

Check it out here.

Economic Development

Ann Arbor invention one to watch at Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Market Watch

Think Google Glass is tearing at the fabric of society wait til you get ahold of The Glyph, which is being developed by Michigan startup Avegant Corp. If they figure out a way to integrate it with XBox and Playstation all kids need is an IV drip and a chamber pot and they need never leave the couch again.

Excerpt:

"“It’s screen-less technology,” he told MarketWatch in a private demo. “The image is projected directly to your retina. We are able to mimic your natural vision.”

The device is geared toward common everyday mobile uses, from watching videos, browsing the Web to holding videoconferences. It is meant to work with a range of devices from laptops to iPhones to tablets.

Unlike Google Glass, which is based on glance-able technology aimed at providing information to the user quickly or for short-term viewing, the Glyph is for longer-term, more engaged media consumption."

Read the rest here.

Arts and Culture

Travel & Food Writer says you MUST eat in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Huffington Post

Zingermans, artisanal beer, downtown and football all make the list of reasons to vsisit A2. And Vellum gets singled out as "the epitome of where Ann Arbor's dining scene is headed."

Excerpt:

"Perhaps it's the fact that Michigan is one of the country's most agriculturally diverse states. Regardless, in the last five years this city has come into its own culinarily. Some even say, after Chicago, it's the dining capitol of the midwest."

Read the rest here.

Community Development

Downtown Ann Arbor loft induces house envy

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Source: Detroit Free Press

If you're going to live in downtwon Ann Arbor and you've got the bucks, you might as well live in taste and style, eh?

Excerpt:

"The structure is a 1920s office building in downtown Ann Arbor that has served as a livery stable, a title firm and a bank. As proof it still has three vaults. One vault is a wine cellar now, one’s a half-bath, and one holds the office’s computer network. Laura and Bill Schlecte added a third floor to the original two, then converted this all to a live-work building.

The whole building is for sale at $1,899,000. It can also be split — $499,000 for the commercial office and $1.4 million for the loft."

Read the rest here.

Load More Stories

Hasini and Harshini Anand are members of Corner Health Center's Youth Leadership Council and mental health advocates.

Voices of Youth

Concentrate's Voices of Youth series features content created by Washtenaw County youth in partnership with Concentrate mentors, as well as feature stories by adult writers that examine issues of importance to local youth. Click here for a full list of the latest content from this series.