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Posted on Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 5:56 a.m.

Developer offers first glance inside Ann Arbor's new City Place apartments

By Lizzy Alfs

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After years of planning and nine months of construction, the first tenants moved into Ann Arbor’s new City Place apartments last week.

The 24-unit, 144-bedroom apartment project, on Fifth Avenue just south of downtown, was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and has opened its doors to about 30 residents so far, said developer Jeff Helminski.

city_place_apartments_bedroom.jpg

A bedroom and connected bathroom in Ann Arbor's City Place apartments development.

Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com

city_place_finished_building.jpg

The outside of the north City Place apartment building.

Angela | Cesere | AnnArbor.com

“(The project has) been really well received,” he said. “If we’re not 100 percent full, we’ll be pretty close come the start of school.”

City Place consists of all six-bedroom units in two identical buildings, separated by a 36-space surface parking lot. Seven century-old homes in Ann Arbor’s Germantown neighborhood were demolished in November 2011 to make way for the development.

Helminski — who offered AnnArbor.com a first glimpse inside the completed development this week — said City Place's six-bedroom format is turning out to be “very desirable” to students and young professionals.

“A lot of grad students don’t want to be in the rat race of the South University area,” he said. “They like being closer to downtown.”

Rents at City Place range from $850 to $1,195 per bedroom. Ann Arbor-based Arch Realty is handling the apartment leasing at City Place.

The fully furnished units range from 2,267 square feet to 2,665 square feet. They are decked out with flat-screen televisions, a surround sound media room, private bathrooms, laundry facilities, energy efficient appliances, wireless Internet, and personal refrigerators and microwaves. The TVs are synced with hallway security cameras.

“We’re really trying to do a lot of things to provide a luxury lifestyle for the folks who want to live here,” Helminski said.

The opening of City Place corresponds with the opening of Zaragon West on East William Street and Landmark on South University Avenue.

Residents started moving into the 14-story, 200-bed Zaragon West on Monday. The 14-story, 600-bed Landmark is wrapping up construction and plans to open by Sept. 1.

Helminski believes City Place is distinctive enough from those high-rises to continue to attract tenants — even with more housing projects in the pipeline for downtown.

“There’s certainly the demand (in Ann Arbor),” he said. “I think the question is: at what price point? You’re never going to know until the market gets saturated at those higher price points.”

He added: “I think (City Place is) going to be well positioned in the market even when more supply comes online.”

Related story: A glimpse at luxury student living inside downtown Ann Arbor's Zaragon West

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

Sarah MacDonald

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.

I have a hard time filling my 5 rooms in my well-kept historical house that is far less than that! I live on the property and am always there to oversea everything and take care of maintenance issues. I filled up earlier than last year but had to drop prices a little lower than I wanted to. These places that have all this fancy stuff, I cannot compete with! My prices are right, but they think for a little more they get all this other crap. My house was built in 1910 and has been very well kept. I have done a lot of work with the decor so you walk into a home with a homey feel. I even put fresh cut flowers by the front door!

Veracity

Sun, Aug 19, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.

Sarah, If I did not have my home I would want to live in your place as a well-kept, attractive residence is important to me. However, I recall as a student that none of that was important to me. I can understand today's youth expecting giant HD TV's with surround sound and for some even pool tables and tanning booths (WARNING: use of tanning booths is associated with skin cancer).

Lizzy Alfs

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.

Sarah: Thanks for sharing. I'd be interested to hear more about your experience and how you've noticed these developments affecting your units.

James

Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.

I think it is pretty rediculous how "zags" likes to make all of these assertions and assumptions. "Reality check:" you have no idea what you are talking about. Classic example of someone with too much time on their hands and nothing to do but anonymously complain on the internet.

zags

Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.

"FYI "those old homes" were the crappy buildings. They were neglected and falling apart. The only "growing blight" is the historic committee of ann arbor." We have a fundamental difference of opinion. I, and many others, look at greed driven development as a "growing blight" to use your terms. When a developer comes in to supposedly offer "young professional" housing, the reality check is that it turns out to be a whopper of a lie. And as far as Arch Realty goes, take a drive through campus and check out the buildings with their sign on them. Form your own opinion. -Fellow Anonymous Complainer and Lover of Old Houses

zags

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.

Can't wait to see the first Beer Pong Tournament on the front lawn in downtown. And don't forget the Walmart kiddie pools next summer. Arch Realty=Student Ghetto.

Arborcomment

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.

Seems to have appropriate decor, the "New York" print on the wall will make the residents feel right "at home".

mtlaurel

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.

wait for some deals on this one,young people....kitchen stocked with food every 2 weeks ...cleaning service provided.....free transport to airport twice per term.....catered food on football afternoons.

a2miguy

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.

Ugly. Boxy, dated, .... UGLY. Oh, they may look nice in the pictures. But even the ugliest stuff looks nice when it's brand new. These places will look like crap by the end of the school year. This development is a joke. Totally agree with others on who these bedrooms are geared towards. It's all party central for 6+ undergrads per unit. No grad student in their right mind who's being serious about their studies would live here. And young professionals? PLEASE! I don't know about you, but when I graduated from U of M and became a young professional, priorty #1 was A PLACE OF MY OWN.

JRW

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 6:15 p.m.

One more example of trying to rip off the "rich" students who come to A2. It never ends. In 5 years, this will be a dump and turned into a halfway house on the city's dime. Even undergrads won't be likely to pay 850 and up for a bedroom in a shared space with 6 students. It's a bit like mini frat dorms; just watch these places deteriorate. Beige carpeting in a student rental? You must be joking! After all the spills and thrills on these carpets, not even the catastrophic cleaning companies will be able to get those stains out! So they've added 144 parking spots to this monstrosity building? Good luck with the added traffic in that neighborhood. Another poster mentioned Arch realty and the student dumps around town. Ditto on that. They'll end up taking it over in 5 years, get a city subsidy and it will be a halfway house.

Billy Bob Schwartz

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.

Looks like another cheap retirement home outside. And is that bed right up agains a window? If so, that's really clever planning.

Mick52

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.

Grad students and young professionals huh? Six bedrooms starting at $850. Never for me. I would be looking at a place like Woodbury Gardens, one bedroom starting at $979. Less noise, more privacy and less chance your peanut butter is gone when you go make a sandwich. A swimming pool for summer. Willowtree near N Campus from $724. Yup it is close to campus but out of the frenzy but to live with five at that price is a stretch.

Stephen Landes

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.

At the moment the buildings and site look far better than what was there. However, maintenance over the long term will be critical. Hopefully the new materials in these buildings will prove easier to maintain than 100 year old materials in the previous buildings.

zags

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:12 p.m.

100 years? not likely. Look at the pictures. These apts are filled with the cheapest sawdust and glue furniture you can buy. The reason the previous buildings lasted 100 years is because they were well built and designed to last 100+ years. These City Place buildings were built as cheaply as possible in order to maximize investment, not to endure for 100 years.

Lovaduck

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.

Ann Arbor has always been full of "instant slums" in student areas. This just continues the tradition!

Mick52

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.

Ha ha. Back in the 70s we called the neighborhood south of Packard the "student slums." It still is but this building got rid of five slum houses and is far better. Just unaffordable for students who would put up with the nasty conditions.

Balance

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.

Wow. Thanks for the glimpse.

ChrisW

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.

The exterior looks cheap and ugly. Interior looks nice, though.

SonnyDog09

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.

This looks much nicer than the tenements that were there previously.

mixmaster

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.

Give it time. If you now anything about student housing, it won't last and maintenance will be deferred in favor of owner profits before they sell it to the next slumlord.

oyxclean

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.

$850 to $1250 per month to live with five other people? What a joke! And i wonder how many bathrooms there are?

Lizzy Alfs

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.

@oxyclean: Each unit has five or six bathrooms, which are attached to the bedrooms. There is one floor plan that has a shared bathroom between two bedrooms.

LXIX

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.

The therapist says that one needs to be more positive. And that if one has nothing good to say, then one should "Mummify it". Yet another perfect example of an ugly, money grubbing "flophouse"! The A2 Planning Commission seriously needs to get a job in Mexico City. (what therapist?).

Brad

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.

I say they should throw a big Oktoberfest party for all of their German neighbors. That would be ausgezeichnet!

Madeleine Borthwick

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.

Brad, could you please translate "ausgezeichnet"? danke schoen, auf wiedersehen, gesundheit, ACH DU LIEBER!!!!!!

mixmaster

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.

Kind of like the Vaughn St parties? Calling all cars.

timjbd

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.

I predicted, after seeing the plans, that these would end up being halfway houses after the students tear them down some. The 6-bedroom layout is ideal for a halfway house. With Arch Realty- and their laissez faire maintenance (every dump in Ann Arbor has an Arch Realty sign on it)- managing the place, that should happen in about 5 years. But ex-cons and people in rehab need places to live, too, so that's probably a good thing. I will be surprised if this arrangement works for students. It's one thing being put it a 2-person dorm room with someone you've never met. 5 other people?

discgolfgeek

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.

I've driven by them, it's such a shame to see these crappy bldgs in place of those old homes. The whole neighborhood now has a blight growing right in the middle of it.

James

Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.

FYI "those old homes" were the crappy buildings. They were neglected and falling apart. The only "growing blight" is the historic committee of ann arbor.

mixmaster

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.

Ah, but it's bright and shiny blight! At least for now. We'll see how well these crackerboxes hold up to student abuse.

mixmaster

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.

I'm reserving judgement until I see how well (or not) the units and the site are maintained over the next 5 years. And how often the site gets sold after the owner tax breaks expire. I hope they won't end up like other student rentals, but I'm not holding my breath. The buildings are incredibly ugly, have a dated design, are out of place with their surroundings, were quickly constructed of cheap building materials, but that's just my opinion.

zags

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.

Reality check: "Young Professionals" do not rent 6 bedroom apts. Nor do grad students. Grad students are generally done with the communal, party based living concept. Plus, these are furnished apartments. Young professionals and grad students generally don't rent furnished apartments. They are older, on a career track, and have their own furniture and "stuff". These apartments are being marketed strictly as bedrooms for students. Call it what you want, but this is purely student housing. It's just closer to downtown. And why 6 bedrooms? Because it's the most bodies you can pack into the lots per the zoning. t Remember, it's all about the money. Everything, and I mean everything, is secondary. Not bashing for bashings sake. I let the pros here do that. Just calling a spade a spade.

Mick52

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.

I disagree about grad students having their own furniture and stuff, that can vary. But I would not as a grad student want to be in an apartment with five other people. Grad school is all business and no play, partying, etc.

hermhawk

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.

The question I must ask, how affordable are these apartments. For students who already pay ultra high tuition, rent may be "mission impossible."

Madeleine Borthwick

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.

hermhawk, at rents *starting* at $850/mo., I have to say that they're not very affordable...for some of us, this rent is indeed "mission impossible" . I know of some people who would gladly trade some of those amenities(see: surround sound media room, flat screen tv's. HUH?) for free heat/water. you know, boring stuff like that......

zags

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.

These are marketed not to students per se. They are marketed to their rich out of state parents. You don't see these projects (and prices) at schools in Michigan with a predominately in state based student body

My2bits

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.

If the historic district had been approved, we would not have lost the seven houses AND not have had Heritage Row either. And Heritage Row was never going to be built; the numbers didn't work. Most grad students cannot afford this, nor do they want to live with that many roommates. This will be an undergraduate "dorm". There goes the neighborhood. The high rise luxury student developments are more properly located.

Mick52

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.

"If the historic district had been approved...." What do you mean "if?" According to the story, this was a historic district. Paragraph 4: "Seven century-old homes in Ann Arbor's Germantown neighborhood were demolished in November 2011 to make way for the development." According to Ms Alfs, this is a historic district. Which is it? I believe you are correct, My2bits, this was not designated a historic district and that is because is never was. The Germans settled in the old west side, well documented in Grace Shackman's book "Ann Arbor in the 19th Century." I think the moniker "Germantown" was simply a ploy by people opposed to the project. This is a far better improvement for the neighborhood, though I think not having, one, two and up to six bedrooms is a far better idea than all having six bedrooms.

karl

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.

To MB111: On what do you base that statement? Please look up the study committee report on the city's website. They were indeed historical. Demolition of those houses also scarred an entire neighborhood.

MB111

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.

There was no real reason that these properties should have been marked historical. Old is not historical.

simone66

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.

You got that right. As a grad student, I need my space and quiet time to study. Can't do that with 4 other roommates. This is undergrad and family housing. Why no single units or simple doubles? Lovely place though.

MB111

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.

Before we get the requisite project bashing, I want to remind the hysterical preservationists and neighbors that they foisted this project on the area due to their fear of any change. Heritage Row was a superior project.

RUKiddingMe

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:54 a.m.

True dat, as they say. That should NEVER be forgotten. It would be worth putting on a monument in front of City Place, like the artist's rendering of both projects side by side and the city's rejection statement for the other one. It would be good to also hang a big weatherproof price tag on the "fountain" in front of the Justice Center, one that can be read from the street: "$750,000 and counting."

GoNavy

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:35 a.m.

Looks like City Place saved money by taking interior design plans it shelved in 1972.

RUKiddingMe

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.

Every rentable unit has 6 bedrooms? Like it' s all connected, and people are sharing one unit that contains 6 bedrooms?

Lizzy Alfs

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.

@RUKiddingMe: Yes, that's correct.

mixmaster

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.

More than a few property owners, managers and landlords encourage students to double up to save money. The six bedrooms have the potential to (illegally) contain (because "house" is stretching it here) more that six tenants. The tenants, managers etc will just move the other bed out of the way or put the futon or hide a bed in the up position when the rental occupancy inspection takes place. Six students, err, tenants? Don't kid yourself.

zags

Mon, Aug 13, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.

Yes. Because that is the max bedrooms per the zoning.

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