Downtown Ann Arbor is getting ready to make that next step toward vibrancy and city officials hope new zoning ordinances will help it get there sooner rather than later.
Excerpt:
In the Ann Arbor of the future, you might not find large bank lobbies on main downtown streets.
Parking structures won't be able to abut the street. They'll have a shop or commercial space in front of them.
The entire downtown will be divided into two zoning classes - you're either D1 or D2. And new construction projects in eight further subdivided areas of downtown will, according to code, have their looks vetted and approved by the city before being built.
Developers will be able to build bigger if they commit to green building, affordable housing, public parking or historic preservation outside of what's required.
And all new developments will have to include mandatory bicycle parking.
It's all part of Ann Arbor's proposed new downtown zoning districts and urban design guidelines, which are currently being shepherded through the city's approval process - and which are drawing the ire of some local landlords and developers.
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