Connecting William Street study complete

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's two-year district planning process process known as Connecting William Street is now complete. The project, which focused on how to best redevelop five city-owned properties along William St. and Fifth Ave., included committee meetings, public outreach, community forums and the services of a land use economist and architecture and engineering firm. 

 

The results of the study were published in January in the Final Connecting William Street Plan, which was adopted as the official thirteenth City Master Plan resource document earlier this month. 

 

"I believe that most of the plan recommendations reaffirm existing plans and community goals for the downtown," says Ann Arbor DDA Planning and Research Specialist Amber Miller. More than 2,000 community members contributed feedback throughout the course of the study, through both surveys and public meetings. 

 

"The majority of the feedback we received confirmed that people want a vibrant sidewalk experience and more opportunities to live, work, and engage in activities downtown," Miller says. "Reinforcing this, the majority of participants supported taller buildings in the core, but made it clear that surrounding context should be considered." 

 

Now that the plan is finalized and the Connecting William Street process is complete, Miller says the DDA board is now discussing the plan recommendations that include DDA action. For example, such recommendations include converting existing office space in the 4th and William parking structure to more active ground floor use, and streetscape and infrastructure improvements.