Brown Recommended for N. Main Group
At its May 23, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission (AAPAC) unanimously recommended that Connie Rizzolo Brown be nominated for a position on a task force to study the corridor along North Main Street and the Huron River. That recommendation will be forwarded to mayor John Hieftje.
The task force was established by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, with membership to include the following: one member of the park advisory commission, one member of the planning commission, one resident representing the Water Hill neighborhood, one resident representing the North Central neighborhood, one resident from the Old Fourth Ward, one resident representing the Broadway/Pontiac neighborhood, two business and property owners from the affected area, and one member of the Huron River Watershed Council.
At its May 21 meeting, the two sponsors of the resolution that created the task force – Ward 1 councilmembers Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith – proposed adding three additional representatives: a member of the city council, someone from the boating/fishing community of river users, a representative from the Huron River Citizens Association. Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves on AAPAC, then proposed an amendment to add an AAPAC member to the task force. The AAPAC addition was passed by council on a 6-5 vote. [See Chronicle coverage: "Positions Added to North Main Task Force"] Appointments are expected to be made at the council’s June 4 meeting.
At AAPAC’s May 23 meeting, Derezinski told commissioners that “basically, we need someone at the table.”
The task force is charged with delivering a report to the city council more than a year from now – by July 31, 2013 – that describes “a vision to create/complete/enhance pedestrian and bike connection from downtown to Bandemer and Huron River Drive, increase public access to the river-side amenities of existing parks in the North Main-Huron River corridor, ease traffic congestion at Main and Depot at certain times of a day and recommend use of MichCon property at Broadway; …”
Earlier than that – by the end of 2012 – the task force is to make recommendations on the use of the city-owned 721 N. Main parcel.
Brown has served on AAPAC since early 2009, and has chaired the commission’s projects committee. She is a principal of Rizzolo Brown Studio, an Ann Arbor architecture firm.
This brief was filed from the basement conference room of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where AAPAC held its meeting. A more detailed report will follow.
Just think…. this time in 2 years you’ll be able to park in the bat cave under the library and all your worries will be gone.
I don’t usually bother looking for a space on Main St. The only way to get one is to have the current occupant pull out in front of you. Ashley has spaces sometimes. Mostly, I just go straight to a lot or structure. Yeah, it costs money, but driving around looking for a space costs aggravation, which is much more expensive to me in the long run.
I’m a structure and lot parker too, unless lightning strikes and I happen on a space by accident. I took the time to look the other day because of the furor about increased parking meter hours.
On street parking is a matter of luck and patience. The one time I was able to park right in front of the restaurant I was going to (parallel parked successfully on first try) I felt as though I was in one of those swanky car commercials. I’ve had acquaintances park without shame in front of restaurants in clearly marked no parking zones. The ticket was not a deterrent, as it was all about the entrance to the party. Business expense, I suppose.
Driving around looking for a space is also one of the main contributors to urban congestion, by the way (according to a book I just read-”Traffic” by Tom Vanderbilt, which was a series of confounding revelations).