http://www.michigandaily.com/content/citizens-fight-new-%E2%80%98u%E2%80%99-parking-structures-near-medical-campus

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/07/um_land_buys_rile_wall_street.html#more

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/07/university_of_michigan_will_bu.html

Resolution calling for increased cooperation between the City and the University of Michigan in planning for redevelopment of the Wall Street Area

Whereas, the City of Ann Arbor established goals for the Wall Street area in the Northeast Area Plan, emphasizing that University facilities would be developed in a manner that encourages pedestrian activity, complements the historic character of the area, provides access to the Huron River, offers attractive public open spaces, is well integrated with surrounding uses and contributes to the vitality of Lower Town, and

Whereas, a primary approach to implementing many of the Northeast Area Plan’s recommendations is for the University of Michigan and City of Ann Arbor to establish a better working relationship on development, transportation, access and utility issues facing the Lower Town area, and

Whereas, the University of Michigan’s plans to build two parking structures on their Wall Street property, each housing about 600 cars to provide parking for commuters as well as staff and patients of the clinics in addition to at least three other large buildings, forever changing the use and streetscape of the area while adding thousands of automobiles to the traffic mix, and

Whereas, the University of Michigan has already invested in commuter lots and busses that could be expanded to serve the needs of commuter parking for the clinics to be built on Wall Street, and

Whereas, the City and the University of Michigan have a common goal of reducing automobile trips into the core of the city to reduce congestion, air pollution and green house gas production, and

Whereas, about 2000 Ann Arbor residents live adjacent to the property owned by the University of Michigan on Wall Street and they will be impacted by years of heavy construction and a significantly changed living environment, and

Whereas, the University of Michigan’s plan for the Wall Street area is based on an older concept that could not have anticipated evolving regional transportation strategies, and

Whereas, the sharp increase in fuel prices has led many drivers to seek alternatives to the automobile with record numbers of commuters making use of AATA bus service and there is building momentum for a new commuter rail line from the east that would deliver staff members, patients and visitors right to the UM Medical Center site, and

Whereas, momentum is also building for a north/south commuter rail line that would stop within a mile of the UM Medical Center, and

Whereas, at this time an opportunity exists for the University of Michigan and the City of Ann Arbor to engage in meaningful conversation about the future of this vital part of the city.

Resolved: That the Mayor and City Council request the President and Regents of the University of Michigan pause in moving forward with plans for the Wall Street area and engage in a planning process with the City at the highest level. The objective of this process will be to merge the goals of the University with those of the City while at the same time addressing the needs of the residents who live in the Wall Street area.

Submitted by Mayor Hieftje and Council Member Briere

I recall vaguely seeing a Michigan Daily article on the neighborhood opposition as well. If we didn’t log that in Old Media Watch, we probably should have.

I’d invite Chronicle readers to track down the text of the resolution and link to it or else past the text into a comment, and to find the MD article and link to it.