A closer look at Ann Arbor City Apartments and how they'll cater to young professionals
Farmington Hills-based developer Village Green broke ground Thursday on the long-awaited Ann Arbor City Apartments project at the corner of First and Washington.
Village Green is calling its 155-unit development the first market rent luxury apartment community in downtown Ann Arbor in more than 25 years.
The new apartments, which could welcome their first tenants as soon as 14 months from now, will sit across the street from popular nighttime establishments like the Blind Pig, Circus and Millennium, with a one-block walk to Main Street.
They're designed to attract young professionals with amenities like a Zen garden, several common areas and a business conference room that will be WiFi accessible and available 24-7.
Another amenity, dubbed the "sky club," is designed as a social environment, featuring cabanas, a gourmet kitchen and bar, gas fire pit and an outdoor lounge.
And, of course, there are sexy bathrooms.
AnnArbor.com asked for digital copies of the renderings and came up with these drawings, which offer a closer look at the project inside and out.
Artist rendering of the sky club
Artist rendering of lobby
Artist rendering of sky park
Artist rendering of Zen garden
Artist rendering of the west elevation
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
mimi harris
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
I can not find apartment floor plans. Am I missing something? Will Dogs be allowed?
Veracity
Tue, Jan 31, 2012 : 6:23 a.m.
Sadly for Ann Arbor tax payers, this property is likely going cost them more money. In order to entice the developers the DDA has agreed to build an underground parking structure to be financed by a $9 million bond issue. Revenue from the parking fees are expected to pay only half of the yearly costs for servicing the bonds. TIF payments received only if the venture is profitable is not expected to fill in the gap. Therefore, expect the DDA to ask for another millage or an income tax to fulfill its financial responsibilities. Note: Village Green may have required the DDA to build the parking structure as a condition for its building the apartment building. The DDA is essentially saving Village Green from having to find $9 million in more loans for a parking facility that will not pay for itself. And by using bond money from the DDA, Village Green does not have to put up the building as collateral on a loan. Village Green is certainly a winner here and Ann Arbor taxpayers will be losers if the apartment rentals do not produce revenue enough to meet TIF payments. Success is not guaranteed as Ashley Terrace has taught us.
Mike58
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
young professionals = parents paying the rent?
JB1
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
I AM a young professional, and I think they've missed the mark on what "young professionals" are after. I think the ship has sailed on faux-luxury. These units may have been sought after 5 years ago (although in Ann Arbor, not so sure). Just how many highly-paid young professionals are there in A2? $1400 is a STEEP price for crappy luxury. I'm hoping that myself and my other young professional friends are creating a new trend--one of conservative spending. Instead of continuing to rent, I just bought a house in Ypsilanti. Even if the property values tank 10-15% per year, I'm STILL coming out ahead. No granite counter tops, but I'm now part of a community where things are happening. Things that aren't initiated by multi-million dollar investors.
say it plain
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 : 5:26 a.m.
Silly to have saddled yourself with the burden of owning a home unless you're sure you're going to be staying a good long while, just to say. I mean, I'm not saying it's better to rent a faux-luxury flat instead, and I do realize that the 'conservative spending' options for young people to rent decent places are limited. But you may find that home-ownership isn't quite the "coming out ahead no matter what!" deal that the realtors like to lead the uninitiated into thinking it is!
mtlaurel
Tue, Jan 31, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
Good Luck JB.....make a better world for yourself and your peers. Generations before you worked hard, in different ways, to build, create and grow so that more can continue to do the same. Taking out that first mortgage is pretty exciting and you figured out how to do it best for your situation.
CynicA2
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.
What a crock...! Like Ashley Terrace, this place will end-up in bankruptcy in a few years.
CynicA2
Tue, Jan 31, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
I'm sure the Terrace still has plenty of vacancies... for sale or lease! Just give them all your money, and step right up!
Arboriginal
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.
Isn't said Terrace in trouble as we rant?
Arboriginal
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
This is fantastic! Lovely and modern plus it will shield Mark's Carts from the chilly midwestern winds. Maybe they will be able to stay open later in the season! Maybe the developer can do something about the facade of Ashley (don't call it a Hampton Inn) Terrace!
Ron Granger
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
Young profressionals? Why, I know some seniors who are chomping at the bit to out drink and out party this crowd. They might just move in and take this place over. And what about the young slackers? Won't someone think of them?
Ron Granger
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
"will sit across the street from popular nighttime establishments like the Blind Pig" How long until they start complaining about "noise" from bands playing at the Blind Pig?
deletedcomment
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
All for the low price of $1400 per month.
Lolly
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
The interior other amenities seem very nice, but that is one ugly building.
yohan
Mon, Jan 30, 2012 : 1:56 p.m.
" ... welcome their first tenants as soon as 14 months " You can tell this isn't a construction project run by the DDA.