Plans for Hampton Inn site on Jackson Avenue to be reconsidered by planning commission
A rendering of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites at 2910 Jackson Avenue.
Giffels Webster
The site plan to construct a new Hampton Inn & Suites on Jackson Avenue was first approved in 2008. Financing issues and the downturn in the hotel industry caused plans to be put on hold and site plan approval for the site to expire.
The commission will decide Tuesday whether to send the plans back to the city council with some minor adjustments to the setback from the main road.
At its last meeting, the commission asked the developers to come up a more pedestrian-friendly plan for the hotel site. After that meeting, Akram Namou of A&M Hospitality and Executive Hospitality told AnnArbor.com he is hoping to quickly move the project forward.
Commissioner Bonnie Bona offered a number of suggestions to Namou at the meeting including making a pedestrian loop around the entire property.
“I think that commissioner Bona wanted them to evaluate the site as if it was a Greenfield site, and to do a pedestrian circulation plan and figure out the parking around that,” Ann Arbor planning manager Wendy Rampson said.
“The challenge with this site is that the underground utilities, stormwater drainage and foundation are already in place. It’s different from a Greenfield site where you can kind of shift around the buildings.”
Rampson said with the constraints they have, the petitioners have made good improvements to further connect the surrounding sidewalks to the building and add some recreational pedestrian amenities.
The new plans call for a 51,608-square-foot hotel with 100 bedrooms on the 8.8-acre property owned by Executive Hospitality Inc. If approved, the new hotel will join a 163-room Clarion Hotel and Conference Center already built on the site. The estimated cost of the project is $800,000.
A former Super 8 motel was removed in 2009 to make way for the new Hampton Inn and a foundation was constructed for the building.
Andy Wakeland of Giffels Webster, the civil engineer for the project, held a citizen participation meeting Jan. 17 to answer neighbors concerns about the project. The developers fielded questions regarding sidewalks, whether another hotel in the area is necessary and if the “cookie-cutter” style of most Hampton Inns would fit in with the local character.
City planning staff have recommended the commission approve the project and send it to city council for final approval.
There are two Hampton Inns in the Ann Arbor area, one near Briarwood Mall and the other off Plymouth Road near U.S. 23.
Related coverage: Ann Arbor Planning Commission asks hotel developer to come up with more pedestrian-friendly plan
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Get in touch with Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
Really, why is this so complicated? Get it done and move on.
Paul Wiener
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 2:47 p.m.
I've always felt that a pedestrian walkway along I-94 would be a good idea, not all the way from Detroit to Chicago, of course, but at least, say, to Gary, Indiana, and one too long postponed. A bike path along , US 23, I-94 and I-96 too is long overdue. Always a heart-warming surprise to hear that there is an Ann Arbor Planning Commission. I'd never have thought a body of actual human beings would be available to take the heat for approving the idiotic, ugly, disruptive, user-unfriendly, citizen-ignoring development that plagues virtually every street in town.
Mick52
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.
Excellent idea and not a new one. I was surprised and elated at the foresight of the state of Hawaii during a visit there in 2007 to see a generous bike lane alongside Queen Kaahumanu highway.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.
Paul, you're a Genius! Excellent idea. I say the bike lanes on the highways should be in the middle, between the left and right lanes. That way, the bicyclists don't have to ride on that awful gravel. While we're at it, it would be nice of there were a dedicated Hoveround lane for folks like me, also. ;) b
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
OMG, get the show on the road! The previous place was a pit. Let them build, and not be responsible for the entirety of Jackson Ave.
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
"Commissioner Bonnie Bona offered a number of suggestions to Namou at the meeting including making a pedestrian loop around the entire property. "I think that commissioner Bona wanted them to evaluate the site as if it was a Greenfield site, and to do a pedestrian circulation plan and figure out the parking around that," Ann Arbor planning manager Wendy Rampson said. "The challenge with this site is that the underground utilities, stormwater drainage and foundation are already in place. It's different from a Greenfield site where you can kind of shift around the buildings."" So Bonnie Bona is making suggestions/demands based on this being a Greenfield site and it's not? Then why was someone this clueless appointed to this commission? Who apponinted her? Who on Council voted to confirm her appointment? Obviously someone this lacking in such basics has no business being on this government body.
Jim Mulchay
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
I'm not sure what "pedestrian friendly" is, but it seems to me that that area is not currently "pedestrian friendly" in the least. It would be interesting to hear what specific items the planning commission would suggest.
DeeAA
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.
I'm assuming that this proposed Hampton Inn and The Clarion will share the current Clarion entrance leaving the westerly cut for emergency and as an exit for those wishing to drive west from there. A traffic light at the freeway entrance would help. It is really difficult for anyone on foot to get from either of these locations and/or Webers to get to Westgate, the bus stops or even the park across Jackson. There is no bus stop going west there as the bus now goes out Dexter road and comes back into town down Wagner and in Jackson. It used to go out Jackson and turn around at Wagner. It is also difficult to drive east into town. I have had people staying there for meetings in town who flew into Metro. They are basically stranded without a car. People fly in from all over to do things in the Ann Arbor area and not everyone rents a car. I notice they keep putting traffic counter strips on Jackson Avenue. Hopefully they'll consider a light. That would also help being able to go west out of Lakewood subdivision.
Mick52
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
Taxi cabs I used to live on Highlake just a couple buildings from Jackson Rd and never had any problem walking across the street there.
Brad
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
" I notice they keep putting traffic counter strips on Jackson Avenue" Sounds like a road diet in the making!
missmisery
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
Let them build! The foundation is already in place.