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.
uhm…..venison stew, so tasty.
Sure, using road kill is a good idea but that’s a high price to pay, sacrificing your car’s front end. Or other parts. That seemed like a large herd on a busy street in what is still the middle of the city. This was around 7:30 am this morning. Are they common there?
Which way were they going? North to Argo or up the rail line, or South to Island or Fuller Parks?
Were they rousted out by a tree trimming crew? They’ve been busy this week too.
They were heading Northwest, I was driving away from the bridge, heading up the hill away from downtown. Right were you can see the back of Arbor Springs on the right, they crossed from that patch of land, across the street and then to my left, to the hill behind Traver I suppose. So to Argo or that area eventually. From the SE side of Plymouth to the NW, since Plymouth runs north and a bit east at that point.
They like to nest in swamp grass and cattails this time of year, probably going up river and crossing where they did because the dam might spook them.
Speaking of road kill. Charlie Parker”s nickname was The Bird. ( Charlie Bird Parker)This was given to him on tour. They were driving and accidentally hit a chicken crossing the road. So rather than waste the chicken he tossed in a stew pot.True story.Thus the nickname “The Bird”
By the way there are herds of deer along the river in various places. I’ve seen as many as 7 at one time along Island Drive and at Island Park.
Had some venison chili the other night…tasty.
I work on Jones Dr. I’ve seen that herd walking along the rail line high above Plymouth, crossing Plymouth, wandering in the back yards between Jones and the creek; and crossing Jones heading towards Broadway.
Pretty awesome! Kudos to the driver who got out to ensure the safety of both the deer and other drivers. When I was a child, living in Detroit, by Schoolcraft & Wyoming, there were train tracks just a couple of blocks north of us. We used to play there. We noticed foxes, pheasant & deer among cattails that grew just off the tracks in a small wetland patch. It always amazed me that such wildlife could exist within the city.
That said, Ann Arbor is a place that is very conducive to allowing wildlife to co-exist within it’s borders. We have peregrine, owls, hawks, fox, raccoon, skunk, possum & even chipmunk! Great post Diane!
There are a *lot* of deer up there. Along Traver Creek, up along Cedar Bend and down through Island Park to the river, there’s a lot of undeveloped land. And it’s always surprising how many deer live on North Campus. I see them crossing Beal, Hubbard and Hayward all the time. I’ve never seen any crossing Plymouth but I’m not surprised.
By the way, that story about how Bird got his nickname is only one of many. See here: [link]
Thanks for all the information. I still don’t easily think of dear living amongst us this closely. And didn’t expect them early in the morning on Plymouth Road. And Bear, don’t forget the coyotes. I’ve heard them, but not seen them.
Bear, you forgot the wolverines in that taxonomy too, for shame.
I know of a well established buck rut close to town that’s been there 40 years or more, I suspect they’re here to stay.
There’s only been one wolverine spotted in Michigan in the last 200 years and that was several years about 90 miles north of Detroit. [link]
Yeah, Diane, coyotes are definitely amongst those making a comeback.
On a bike ride yesterday in Scio and Webster Twps., I saw over a hundred deer in a little over a mile, on Tubbs, Stein, and Joy Roads. The herd appears to have made it through the winter in fine shape.
Bear, I think everyone else knows I meant the two-legged variety of wolverine.