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.
Yes, E.B. is for Easter Bunny. Chatted briefly with Leslie, who’s an owner of the property. She’s trying to add a little life and color to the place for a couple of weeks before Easter. During art fairs last year, they marketed parking with “We’re Nice!” signs.
The property was almost sold to Morningside as a part of a deal that would have included the two adjacent houses, and would have possibly resulted in the demolition of all three structures, to allow for additional surface parking, to make the “greenhouse” addition to Liberty Lofts (old Eaton Factory) more marketable. But the city’s historic district commission granted a notice to proceed for demolition only for the gas station, not the two adjacent houses. You can read about that here: [link]
Thanks Dave for the acknowledgment! Hey, I am hoping you can make a correction in your 2nd sentence where you say “Leslie, who’s an owner of the property.” I am NOT an owner, it’s my husband and his partner. I guess you did know all about the business with Morningside and Historic district commission. I checked out your link and it got me a little worked up about the situation all over again. What isn’t considered and is a non-significant issue in this whole business, is the effect that it has had on my husband and his partner who own that property. Anyway, stop and have some cake and/or cookie samples!
delicious carrot cake
and sweet made-with-love cookies
I’m glad to see more information about this property. Since the gas station closed, it has seemed rather lost. I hope something works out soon. It is an important corner, and it would be great to see it used in a positive way.
Would that be Bolgos, as in the legendary dairy?
Oops, answered this myself: [link]
Best of luck with the new biz.
Thanks for that article. What was the Bolgos family restaurant?
The Easter Bunny Showcase has been cleared out.
Rumor around the block has it that the building is being readied to become a medical marijuana dispensary.