Land Purchase Near Ruthven Nature Area OK’d

Another piece of property has been purchased by the city of Ann Arbor within the city limits adjoining an existing nature area. Getting approval for purchase from the city council at its April 15, 2013 meeting – for a price of $110,000 – was a roughly 8-acre vacant parcel owned by Windy Crest Partnership just east of the Ruthven Nature Area. The parcel fronts on Meadowcreek Drive.

The city’s share of the purchase price is $82,500, with the remaining $27,500 contributed from Washtenaw County parks & recreation. Including the $13,000 in closing and due diligence costs, the city of Ann Arbor’s share amounted to $95,500, which will be paid from the city’s open space and parkland preservation millage proceeds.

The parcel is mostly in the floodway, as Millers Creek runs through it. Future costs associated with maintaining the site will include management by the city’s natural area preservation staff, which would include ecological burns and removal of non-native species.

Purchase of the Meadowcreek Drive property marks the third similar acquisition by the city in about the last seven months, using funds from the open space and parkland preservation millage. At its Oct. 15, 2012 meeting, the council authorized the acquisition of a parcel on Hampstead Lane, adjoining the Kuebler Langford Nature Area. And at its March 4, 2013 meeting, the council authorized the acquisition of a roughly 0.357-acre piece of vacant land located on Orkney, adjoining the Bluffs Nature Area.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]