Our guide to Urbanism in Washtenaw County

National Advocacy Groups

Urbanism

Biking

Public Transit

Regional Advocacy Groups

Biking

Public Transit

Local Advocacy Groups

Urbanism

Biking / Walking

Mutual Aid

  • Mutual Aid Network of Ypsilanti / Southeast MI Pull Over Prevention

Local Stakeholder Agencies

  • City of Ann Arbor
  • City of Saline
  • Pittsfield Township
  • Ypsilanti Township
  • City of Ypsilanti 
  • Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
  • University of Michigan Logistics, Transportation, and Parking (LTP)
  • University of Michigan Architecture, Engineering, and Planning
  • AAATA
  • SMART
  • Washtenaw County
  • MDOT
  • RTA
  • SEMCOG
  • Amtrak

Ongoing Civic Projects: Local

Ongoing Civic Projects: Regional

Ongoing Housing Projects

  • MLive Housing Projects List (Notable projects listed below)
    • All new housing plans seem to contain underground parking, which is better than surface-level. However it still encourages car ownership, which encourages getting around the city by car. Ann Arbor should explore a more extensive car-share program in the city for when people need to make trips outside of Ann Arbor.
    • 330 Detroit St adds street-level retail space. Replaces a small single-story building and parking lot. Unfortunately the apartments are being advertised as “luxury”
    • 340 Depot St is a mixed-use development that replaces a single-story office building.
    • 121 E Catherine St. is replacing a parking lot and is 100% affordable housing.
    • Arbour on Main replaces an oddly located sparse housing development reminiscent of something you would find in a rural area. It is located along a transit corridor (that will be improving over the next few years) and is within walking distance of many amenities. The development claims to be prioritizing walkability.
    • A proposed demolition of 917-933 S. State St and 722-740 Packard St. would (displace my favorite sushi restaurant!) combine the properties into one large housing development. This would add much-needed density to the area and replace some deteriorating structures.
    • 350 S. Fifth Av. is a very promising transit-oriented partial affordable housing project. It would replace the Y lot behind Blake Transit Center and add additional bus capacity. I believe it also contains street-level retail space. 
    • Beekman on Broadway is planning to develop its third and final building on an empty adjacent lot. The development contains an insubstantial number of affordable housing units.
    • An unnamed development behind Michigan Theater promises to be one of the tallest developments in Ann Arbor. Unlike other high rises, it will not be designed and priced for university students for once. The developer claims to want to create housing for the downtown workforce, which is a refreshing change of pace. 
  • Planning commission: identified potential sites for new affordable housing

Urbanism and City Planning Resources

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