Avalon makes plans for mid-rise affordable housing in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Source: Concentrate

More mid-rise buildings are planned for Ann Arbor, this time along Main Street a few blocks north of downtown and west of the Amtrak train station.

Three Oaks Development and Avalon Housing want to build a couple of 5-story buildings on the east side of North Main between Felch and Summit streets called, approriately enough, North Main. Plans for the structures presented to the city show a suburban-style layout with modern buildings flanked by large surface parking lots.

The developers want to bulldoze seven single-family homes and a small corner store to make way for the project. These buildings have served in a traditional urban neighborhood on Ann Arbor's near north side for about a century.

North Main would provide about 60 one-bedroom units of affordable housing. That means approximately one third of the units will be set aside for special-needs residents. The rest will go for people who make between 30 and 60 percent of the area's median income.

The developer is also looking into pursuing LEED status with the project, and could include such sustainable features like a green roof, geothermal heating and permeable pavement.

The developer has an uphill climb before construction can start. The project exceeds the zoning of the area in terms of height, density and setback. The city's central plan also calls for preserving the homes in the existing neighborhood and whatever is built in the area respect the surrounding historic architecture.

The project still needs to go before the city's Planning Commission and City Council before the developer can begin construction.

Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke