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.
I was right behind Peter yesterday and while he concentrated on the kayakers, I took some photos of the project itself. The ones I’m sending were taken from near the outlet into the river. I also talked to a person there: [photo] [photo] [photo]
Brian Sojka, who worked on the project for the company TSP Environmental of Livonia, said the race provides a series of pools for canoers, kayakers and tubers to get around Argo Dam on the Huron River. The project was begun at the end of the summer and the race re-opened about a week ago. Some of the construction crew – including Sojka – took kayaks out on the water as soon as the stones were in place, he said. The water in the race can be controlled by increasing or decreasing water going over the Argo Dam, Sojka said, and overall, water in the race is shallow enough to stand up in, He expects a lot of traffic – especially tubes – when the weather warms up in the spring.
Still to be done in the spring is to asphalt the path along the river and to replace the short bridge over the intake to the race. Renovation work on the river itself depends on DTE Energy, which plans to do the work as part of its cleanup of property along the river near Argo Dam.
Thanks for these photos, Marianne. They motivate me to go see the place in person.
My kids and I have enjoyed leisurely kayak trips from Argo to Gallup for years. They are 6 and 9 — is this now off-limits to them, safety wise?
These are great photos (in the original article and in the first comment). Thanks for inspiring me to take a ride over and look!
Chalk a Win up on the board for Paddlesports in Michigan. Yeah !
Love the new water race.
Sweeeeeeeeet!!!!!
Any word on how and who controls flow?…. this weather makes me wanna get some!!!
Any yakers hit me up @
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