Maple and Miller development revived: New apartments proposed for 3-acre site in Ann Arbor
The owner of a 3-acre site in Ann Arbor is looking to construct apartments and single-family homes after plans to develop the site fell through years ago.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
The owner of the property, Muayad Kasham, wants to demolish an existing home and construct two 18-unit, 3-story apartment buildings and seven single-family homes in a project called the Maple Cove Apartments & Village. It includes a 64-space parking lot.
Access to the site is proposed via two separate locations off North Maple Road—one for the apartment buildings and one for the single-family units.
The site is currently vacant except for one residential home.
“The Maple side is vacant land, and is an eye sore off Maple Road, which is the reason that we are interested in redeveloping that site,” Kasham said in an email to AnnArbor.com. “It has a lot of potential, and is close to M-14, Skyline [High School] and downtown [Ann Arbor].”
In 2005, plans were approved to construct single-family homes on a portion of Kasham’s 3-acre site, but the project fell through.
Then, in 2008, developers planned to build Maple Cove: An office and residential complex consisting of two 27,300-square-foot buildings and one 11,454-square-foot building. Jim Chaconas, a local commercial real estate agent who was marketing the space at the time, said the project fell through when it couldn’t secure financing.
Now, Kasham, who owns Superior Lawn Care & Snow Removal in Ann Arbor, intends to revive development plans for the property.
He is working with his brothers, Jamal, Mahmune and Mohammad, who own JNS Commercial Cleaning in Ann Arbor. Jamie Gorenflo of Midwestern Consulting is the civil engineer for the project.
Site plans for the two apartment buildings include 12 one-bedroom units and 24 two-bedroom units.
Site plans have been submitted to demolish a vacant Marathon at the Maple and Miller intersection and build a Speedway gas station.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
He said the plan is to construct the apartment buildings first and then to possibly sell off the lots for the single-family homes.
The project is still in the preliminary stages, and Kasham said exterior plans for the apartment buildings and single-family units have not been finalized.
The target demographic for the complex: Single-family homeowners, small families and students or professionals, Kasham said.
The Maple and Miller intersection has on and off been a target of development since Skyline High School opened in 2008 one mile north of the intersection.
A building on the southwest corner of the intersection was redeveloped, and a Subway sandwich shop signed a lease to open in half of the 2,200-square-foot space.
Across the street on the southwest corner, a Speedway gas station recently submitted site plans to the city of Ann Arbor to demolish the vacant Marathon gas station and construct a new station and convenience store.
The Maple Cove Apartments & Village development will now go before Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission in the coming weeks.
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
Wystan Stevens
Fri, Feb 10, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.
I miss Weng's Kitchen, an unassuming Chinese restaurant, inexpensive, with really tasty food.
Suitsme
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 5:17 p.m.
I think there should be a moratorium on all building until the new sewage treatment plant is finished. If you have a fishtank I suggest testing the water coming out of the tap for ammonia. We have called the city about the quality of our water (we live off of Pauline). Wouldn't it be fun to have a coffee shop or restaurant for people from the neighborhood to gather? Even a drive through coffee shop would be nice.
paul wiener
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.
As soon as Miller is repaved from downtown up to Maple, it becomes a good idea. Right now, the half mile down from Maple is a disaster.
Ann English
Fri, Feb 10, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
So the half mile of Dexter east of Maple is a disaster? I use more of it going west than east. Last week, when most of that intersection was closed, I noticed the nice lane on Dexter for just the clients at Knight's while waiting for the light to change. Like a turning lane or freeway exit ramp. Only, of course, when you find that it ends and turn on your left turn signal, the other traffic can let you back in.
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
I think you mean Dexter.
Rod Johnson
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
Is there a plan to put something in the Aldi out lot (a little farther down the road, but still part of the whole "gestalt" of Maple)?
Ann English
Fri, Feb 10, 2012 : 12:23 a.m.
There is a plan to put another business on that land, which is much leveler than the lots in front of the Ann Arbor-Saline Road Meijer, for which there are also plans to put in retailers. Hopefully, that future business at Dexter and Maple will share the driveway off Maple Road. Any entrance south of the one that Aldi uses would be too close to the Maple-Dexter intersection.
newsboy
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Seems like a good place for more businesses not housing.
annarboral
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
36 apartments and seven single family homes on 3 acres is crazy. Where do the kids play? Where are the green areas? How do you handle all that traffic congestion? This is a really bad idea by a greedy developer. Property in Ann Arbor should be at a premium so there are lots of alternative uses for this land. Super high density projects in residential areas should not be allowed.
SMC
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 5:44 p.m.
It's called decent, affordable housing. If you want the town to stagnate and die, just keep on opposing any new development, and insist that spending too much money on an ancient house with no modern amenities is the price of membership in the 48103/48104 Club. That way, Ann Arbor's population will consist only of transient students and old west siders, whose inherited houses are so historic that they don't even have driveways, since cars weren't around back then. When the kids need more space to play, the owners will sell their house and find a bigger one.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
I'm thinking the same thing....
sbbuilder
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Will they allow a split-rail fence out front? Just dying to know.
Diane
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
Why build more housing, when it doesn't sell now. Look @ the places on Liberty & Maple.. Still empty!!!!!!
Ed Fenton
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
I don't think the subway and apartments will ever come to Ann Arbor, but I see the speedway there before anything else, that subway has taken forever, and I see how many times plans to developed that property has fallen, I would not get my hopes up.
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 3:53 p.m.
Directly from the Subway Site. Opening Soon! Subway Store # 48241 1251 N. Maple Suite 2 Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA Distance: 4.04miles
5c0++ H4d13y
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:44 a.m.
I'm glad they got the dump pile cleaned up and hauled the bus off. More power too them. I hope the In and Out stays open after the speedway starts selling beer.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
But I'm curious to know what is still under the earth.
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
A Speedway will be a welcome addition. That corner used to have a little store in the 50's
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
The Kelly farm I believe. And Reeds store was where the Marathon station is/was.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
It once supported two gas stations, the Marathon and a Shell where the building that never gets occupied was. Course before the Shell there was a lovely dairy farm on that southwest corner. With pastures for cows further east on the south side of Miller Ave. Course then, Maple was a dirt Road too.
mohomed
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
Why not some section 8 housing hear. Skylane has a lot rich mostly white people around it. Maybe some diversity and free housing for poor people is what Ann Arbor needs more of, thanks!
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:07 a.m.
"free housing for poor people is what Ann Arbor needs more of" I don't think so.
Vivienne Armentrout
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
I live nearby and drive through that intersection frequently, and I am very encouraged by this. The West Side has been developing in many favorable ways but this little Maple-Miller area has lagged behind. Odd when you consider that it is on a major road with a really good bus service and near a high school and freeway interchanges. Perhaps this development will also energize some of the commercial developments in that area.
halflight
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.
Do the land owner and his brothers have any experience in developing an apartment complex, or any other kind of real estate? If not, they could be in for an expensive education.
West Side Mom
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.
Will be surprised if this plan goes anywhere. It's one thing to site plan approval, its another to get construction financing. This stretch of Maple is pretty sad. Can't see why a student or a young professional would want to live here. There is almost nothing within a reasonable walking distance. (Anthony's Pizza is the notable exception but there is more to life than pizza.)
SMC
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
Businesses don't start up and then wait for people to come live nearby. Businesses develop in areas where people already live. West Side Mom's argument is like not buying a Blu-Ray player because you don't need one, because you don't own any discs.
Vivienne Armentrout
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:47 a.m.
What do you consider "reasonable walking distance"? It is .66 miles to the Dexter/N. Maple intersection. There is a full shopping center in one corner, an Urgent Care medical facility in another, Aldi and Knight's Restaurant on a third, and a public park on the fourth. I am in my late 60s and I can walk this distance comfortably in 15 minutes. (faster if I'm motivated)
jcj
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:12 a.m.
Maybe it should be in the vacant space next to McDonalds. Then they could walk to Taco Bell or Burger King! Now that's a draw. It makes as much sense as the monstrosity they want to put next to Grace Bible Church!
SMC
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.
I hope the developer is planning on building small frame structures with detached/no garages, or the townsfolk (from the old west side) will surely be up in arms.
say it plain
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
Why not make it more like 6 one-bedrooms, 12 two-bedrooms and some number of three-bedroom units and for small families or the vaunted "young professionals" who would be giving up some cool of being closer to downtown by gaining some more space?! It would be nice to increase options for that demo, but given the high traffic of that corner, the way the complex is laid out relative to the busy intersections might be important in determining its appeal ultimately.
say it plain
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 4:33 a.m.
jeez, @Marshall Applewhite, I didn't realize posting a comment on the dot com was equivalent to attempting to 'dictate the details of the project' lol; thanks for the 'welcome' to purchase the site ;-)
halflight
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
Mashall Applewhite: But it's so much easier to abuse the political process!
Marshall Applewhite
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
Well, if you'd like to dictate the details of the project, you're more than welcome to purchase the property from the developer.......
justcurious
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 10:46 p.m.
Is it possible to see a map of where these 3 story buildings will be located? Is it directly on the Northwest corner of the intersection?
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
That ight be what that white pipe is sticking up there for.
Barb
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
I would imagine a real environmental study of that area would not be a bad idea. Gas stations and junk yards are just notoriously bad. But I'm sure no one will want to spend the money.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:33 a.m.
Oh, I was wondering if that was where they are planning to build. That's where Joe Romeo had his auto repair and junk yard. I wonder if they did toxic waste cleanup? I know someone who claims to have lifelong health problems from playing in his junkyard as a child.
Joe Kidd
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:21 a.m.
Just, if you go to Google maps, satellite view you can see it where the address is marked 1577 on the roadway. You can see the white stick and the mud puddle seen in the above photo if you zoom down close.
leaguebus
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
Too much traffic. We need to make this into a historic district, so we can give the developer the business. We could call it Germantown west. LOL
Ellis Sams
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
The former Marathon station occupies the northeast corner.
bunnyabbot
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.
I feel whatever about the apartments, I think it would be better to have a CVS there, I don't really think there is a need for apartments there, coming from someone who knows the area well. Not thrilled at all about the Subway, I'd rather have a Jimmy Johns, really hope one of those nasty nail salons doesn't rent the other half of that building. All I am excited about and want to hurry up and open is the Speedway. Open open open.
Usual Suspect
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
"I think it would be better to have a CVS there" What? You're being sarcastic, right? There are something like a dozen pharmacies within two miles of that area.
pegret
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
Amen, justcurious. As a very wise man once told me, "You could always cash a check at Stadium Tavern, but you can't buy a beer at the bank."
bunnyabbot
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 5:55 a.m.
the villge pharmacy sucks, not to mention that whole oxycontin problem they had. Can't stand Walgreens and Rite Aid, don't really care if there isn't a pharmacy (or bank) on the corner, just don't think there is a need for apartments there either.
justcurious
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
They build two things - Pharmacies and Banks. It's because of the baby boomers. Both businesses will do a lot of business with baby boomers. I still mourn the loss of the Stadium Tavern to a bank. No more pharmacies please!!
Arboriginal
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 1:31 a.m.
What aboot a Myjers Fifty Achers? Ummmm.....Espengar/NorthMaple.....how about reading nvragain but this time with dripping college town sarcasm. Mkay?
NorthMaple
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 : 12:07 a.m.
I count six pharmacies in one square mile: 1) Walgreens at Jackson and Maple/Stadium 2) Rite Aid in Westgate 3) Village Pharmacy in Maple Village 4) KMart in Maple Village 5) Plum Market in Maple Village 6) Kroger on S. Maple And isn't there a CVS further down Stadium? NO MORE PHARMACIES. ... I do agree about the Jimmy John's, though!
Epengar
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.
Huh?, the Village Pharmacy in Maple Village is less than a mile down the road, and there's a Walgreen's on Jackson at Maple and a Rite Aid in Westgate. How many do we need?
nvragain
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
we definitely need a cvs, there isn't a pharmacy within miles. Oh and those nasty nail salons, don't get me started. But a jimmy johns, that would be awesome. Whatever about the apartments, just hurry up with the speedway already.
Marshall Applewhite
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
Sounds like a decent idea. That intersection could really use a shot of life.