Near North is doing something many big developments in downtown Ann Arbor haven't been able to do lately – move toward approval with some sort of consensus.
The developer recently pulled its plans and the local coalition of neighbors around the project site dropped their opposition. The project is now set to go before the Ann Arbor City Council on Monday for approval thanks to the compromise.
"It wasn't so much a deal as it was a collaboration on design changes that made the project so much better," says Bill Godfrey, a partner with Ann Arbor-based Three Oaks Group which is developing the project with Avalon Housing.
The neighborhood coalition came forward with nine proposed changes to make the development on North Main Street just south of Depot Street conform to the surrounding historic neighborhood. The developer and his architect, Damian Farrell, went back to the drawing board and came up with a plan that for once made just about everyone happy.
"To Damian's credit he kept an open mind and was able to incorporate all of the changes they suggested," Godfrey says, adding that it helped that the neighbors were working with professionals who were able to make key translations and explain the reasoning behind certain aspects of the development.
Among the changes are taking one floor off the top, so it is at most four stories high. Previously, the development could have arguably reached five stories at one point (depending whether you viewed the lowest floor as ground or basement level) because of the way it was built into the surrounding hill. The developer also increased the setback from 10 to 15 feet, agreed to add more landscaping and make it more pedestrian friendly.
The developer also pulled the building apart into two large-but-connected sections to break up the massing of the structure. The façade and unit design was also changed so the development has a more horizontal look. The developer also agreed to hold off on the ground floor market plans until grant money is secured to buy and clear the nearby party store and create an adjacent green space.
"We're starting to define Phase 2 of the project, which is the design of the floodway," Godfrey says. "A nice new greenway next to our building would be awesome."
The new development will feature 39 one-bedroom apartments. Of those 25 will be dedicated to affordable housing (people who make less than $34,000) and the rest for supportive housing for people who are homeless or have disabilities. Godfrey is hopeful the development will be able to incorporate previously announced environmentally friendly features, like a green roof.
"We're going to try," Godfrey says. "We think it's important that the green movement isn’t limited to people with large incomes."
Whether that becomes a reality is up to funding. Godfrey expects to apply for housing tax credits and search out a primary investor who will own and run the building this winter. Construction is expected to begin next spring and be done as soon as eight months later.
Source: Bill Godfrey, developer of Near North
Writer: Jon Zemke
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