Set of steps from sidewalk hatch previously leading to a basement.

These old wooden stairs likely pique the curiosity of passersby, whether they are longtime residents or first-time visitors. For one thing, they don’t lead anywhere. The Chronicle had previously corresponded via electronic mail with the owners of the steps about their history.

And two Sunday evenings ago when we spotted two people emerging from the office space in front of which the stairs are mounted – armed with schematic drawings affixed to large pieces of foam core – we figured they were headed the same direction we were: to Sunday night caucus at city council chambers in the Larcom Building.

So we took the opportunity to make face-to-face introductions, and to get the story behind the steps. It turns out that the stairs’ original home was in the “sidewalk hatch” of the building immediately to the north of their current location. The steps located underneath sidewalk grates were used in the olden days to accept deliveries directly into basements of buildings – along this block and elsewhere. The extreme wear on these particular steps was attributed to the kegs of beer that used to be rolled down them into the basement of an Irish pub there. But the stairs’ owner allowed that this could be an apocryphal tale. In a cursory check of AADL online historical resources for Ann Arbor, The Chronicle could find no evidence bearing on the question.

As we crossed Fifth Avenue to the Larcom Building, the stairs’ owner explained that 8-10 years ago the next-door building had undergone some renovations, and that he had spotted this set of stairs sitting inside the dumpster. After inquiring with the building owners and getting their okay to rescue them from their fate, he recruited a couple of other guys help him, climbed into the dumpster, and wrestled them free.

Wondering where this is and who we were talking to? Some readers might already know, but here’s another detail that gives some additional folks a shot before we straightup tell you: the stairs’ owner was headed to caucus to make a brief presentation on the proposed African American Museum to be located in the Polhemus House on Pontiac Trail – which was to come before council for approval as a PUD rezoning the following evening on Sept. 8. That project enjoyed the recommendation of planning commission and was approved by council that evening.

So who was that guy we hounded all the way from Fourth Avenue and Huron to the Larcom Building? Richard Mitchell of Mitchell and Mouat Architects, Inc.

Geddes Ridge private development near the entrance to Gallup Park on Geddes Road.

Two weeks ago I pedaled east out Geddes Road to the Gallup Park entrance in search of a bench – or possibly just a plaque – that indicated the path was created in memory of someone. Even though I’d run past that marker many times, I no longer had a clear recollection whether it was a bench or a plaque, much less the actual name of the person. I think it was “Kahn.”

My thought was to put together a small feature for The Chronicle on the person the path was named after, if only to help populate the archives before we launched the publication. When I arrived at the place where I remembered the marker, I found the land cleared for a new development: Geddes Ridge. I searched the length of the path, but I could not find the marker. Perhaps it’s still there and I missed it. Perhaps it’s been moved.

I was reminded of my failure to find it, and how I had simply punted on the project last night at the city council meeting. On the agenda of the meeting was the new citizen participation ordinance [.pdf of full text of the ordinance] as well as a new ordinance on private streets, access, and land use control [.pdf. full text of the ordinance].

These ordinances, which were both approved, do not bear on projects like Geddes Ridge. However, there was some sentiment expressed both at Sunday caucus and at council on Monday (Sept. 8) that the ordinance mandating citizen participation does not articulate with enough specificity what other projects – besides PUDs, planned projects, and projects requiring site plan review – could trigger the ordinance. And from what The Chronicle understands, the Geddes Ridge project could still be built because it involves land division of two parcels into four parcels apiece, but could not be built if the eight resulting parcels had come from a division of a single parcel.

Stephen Rapundalo, in his communications from council, announced there would be a meeting at Angell Elementary School on Wed., Sept 10, starting at 7 p.m during which city planning staff will be on hand explain what the applicable codes are.

We invite readers to examine the new ordinances in detail and explicate how they do not bear on Geddes Ridge, or attend the Angell School meeting and report back on anything they heard or saw there. Comments are open.