Fifth Avenue won't reopen to traffic this month after all
Many downtown Ann Arbor businesses — especially Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar, which are located here on the closed section of Fifth Avenue — have been waiting anxiously for the street to reopen. The street has been closed to traffic since September 2010.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Susan Pollay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, said crews are working hard on the underground parking structure project that has kept Fifth Avenue closed, but they won’t have the street open by the end of January, which was the goal.
Pollay said she doesn't have a firm estimate for when the road will reopen, as the remaining work involves waterproofing, which is temperature- and moisture-sensitive.
These signs remain standing at the corner of Liberty and Fifth Avenue in downtown Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Many downtown businesses — especially Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar, which are located on the closed section of Fifth — have been waiting anxiously for the street to reopen. The street has been closed to traffic since September 2010.
Owners of both restaurants have spoken out before the Ann Arbor City Council, saying they've been hurt because of the construction. They also said they think they deserve some form of compensation from the city or the DDA.
Mayor John Hieftje said in July he wasn't sure what more the city could do for the businesses, but he noted Fifth Avenue was expected at that time to reopen by Dec. 31.
Pollay later indicated in November the DDA was aiming to open the street sometime in January.
The DDA is funding the $50 million underground parking structure, which will be owned by the city. Remaining work on the project is expected to continue into the spring.
DDA officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking to kick off the project in September 2009, though it was some months later before major work was under way.
The deck is expected to include somewhere around 700 parking spaces. It originally was expected to open in August 2011. But by late 2010, due to a delayed start, project officials said it wouldn't be finished until December 2011 or January 2012.
The project manager for contractor Christman Co. offered an update on the timeline last July, saying the project would be finished in spring 2012. The latest estimate from DDA officials is that the garage will be open in time for the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July.
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
Dug Song
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 6:18 a.m.
<a href="http://www.lamag.com/features/Story.aspx?ID=1568281" rel='nofollow'>http://www.lamag.com/features/Story.aspx?ID=1568281</a> > "For 5,000 years," says Cole, "we built cities around people, and they worked well. > For 50 years we've built them around the parking lot—a ridiculous use of land, of money, > and an intrusion into the intimacy of human scale.
RUKiddingMe
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
You know, the City Hall fountain thing hasn't been closed up yet either. The thing that was supposed to be done before Thanksgiving? The $750,000 thing? Does anyone recall there being something fishy about how Christman Co. got this contract? I tried Searching A2.com for "Christman" and couldn't find it, but I could swear there was some shady thing happening, like someone working at Christman was related to someone in Council or DDA, or SOMETHING. Ryan, would you be able to find that? And by the way, readers should search A2.com for "Library Lot" or "Christman" and refresh your memory about this whole thing; it's been an absolute ridiculous disaster from the very start. Ryan, does the DDA use our property tax money to fund this? And is there a place where we can see the ACTUAL money being spent on it? Like not just the estimates, but the actual? And I second the request to find out if there is ANYTHING in the library lot contract about compensation to the DDA or city if there are delays of certain amounts of time (like multiple years for God's sake, I mean REALLY).
Marshall Applewhite
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 4:59 a.m.
I'm curious why the road needs to remain closed while the structure is waterproofed. Is that really a process that traffic would impede?
B2Pilot
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:56 a.m.
Perhaps the city could donate a piece of art for their front yard as compensation ? that really adds value like that thing in front of my city hall 750K seriously? Any news on what the DDA plans to build on top of 'their' structure when they get that part done? This has dramatically changed the city forever.
grimmk
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:43 a.m.
Really? Well that's a big surprise! I'll be gobsmacked if it even opens up at all.
Frustrated in A2
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:34 a.m.
I don't care about when the structure opens, you open 5th Ave and I'll be one of the happiest people on that road. You couldn't miss me, I'll be the one with the ear to ear grin Lol!!!
mrblond
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:27 a.m.
as if anyone believed it. boondoggle.
leezee
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
I am completely shocked! Not!
Peter Eckstein
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 11:16 p.m.
"The latest estimate from DDA officials is that the garage will be open in time for the Ann Arbor Art Fair in July." Yes, but what year?
Sallyxyz
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:25 p.m.
These delays are just ludicrous. I have never seen these kinds of repeated delays. I certainly hope the city will levy some steep fines and provide specific explanations regarding delays. Traffic has been tangled because of this nonsense for 3 years. FAR too long!
jns131
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
Um...last I checked there is a bridge out on Stadium. They say it should be done by years end? Maybe?
lynel
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
If the voters of AA are unhappy with the DDA they should vote them out in the next election. Oh, wait.....
bamwow
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
As the kids used to say, DUH!
mike gatti
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
J. Garden and Earthen Jar should be thankful that the city didn't make them close during the construction. You want an update on when the road will reopen? It will reopen when the DDA says it will reopen. What are you gonna do cry to the Mayor?
leezee
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 12:52 a.m.
Wow! Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.
jns131
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
With the amount we have borrowed from the? Might as well be.
Castanza
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
This Isn't China the last time I checked
Ron Granger
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
The Ann Arbor DDA is a failure. They should admit they blew this and they should compensate both of those businesses.
Brad
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
Not this month and no firm estimate? Translation: July
beeswing
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
July of what year?
jns131
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
More translation? July equals The Art Fair! What more lovely headaches can we get?
djm12652
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Translation: I dunno.....
applehazar
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
Taking bets - which will open first - the parking garage or Costco? I vote Costco
Barb
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:44 p.m.
Oh, yeah - that's a good comparison.
xmo
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
This is what happens if you do not contribute to the re-election of certain members of Ann Arbor City Council. They start a project that disrupts your business an will not complete it until you are out of business! I wonder if they are doing this because they serve Middle Eastern food?
A2comments
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.
I'm shocked!
Nathan
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
I can't wait for this to finally finish. I'm getting visions of Boston's Big Dig in my head every time I drive by that corner (which is twice a day). I hope there was some sort of schedule guarantee when they first approved the project so that Earthen Jar and J. Garden can get something out of the deal
a2scio
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
I love Jerusalem Garden. Finish the money pit. The 4-way stop has been there too long!
jns131
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
Never been there. Heard of it, but nope don't know anything about it. I do know Champions is now gone and with it? Parthenon. Wow.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Sure am glad to hear from the de-facto Ann Arbor city government what's happening with our dollars and how an unelected and unaccountable body is operating. Time to disband the DDA. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Three final points: 1) I have the wrong link above. The link to the 2011-12 budget is at: <a href="http://www.a2dda.org/downloads/Resources/BudgetFY12_Final.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2dda.org/downloads/Resources/BudgetFY12_Final.pdf</a> 2) I mis-read the statement. Surplus on parking ops will be $11 million, not $9 million 3) Halflight wrote: "The city council won't disband the DDA because it is a revenue generator, despite all the Bolshevik squealing." The ad hominem attack in that statement notwithstanding, it is factually incorrect. AFTER running a $11 million surplus on parking operations, and AFTER stealing another $4 million from other taxing authorities, the DDA will run a $2.1 million DEFICIT. Gotta love those entrepreneurial businessmen who don't need welfare handouts and who know how to turn a profit. GN&GL
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
@halflight: You have described HOWthe sum of money given to the DDA is determined. not WHERE it comes from. No one who works or lives in the downtown area has a portion of their tax bill earmarked for the DDA. For WHERE that money comes from, see mine above. And per the DDA 2011-12 budget (finally posted to its website more than 3 months in to the fiscal year), the DDA is "capturing" (aka "stealing") nearly $4 million from those entities all the while it expects to run a $9 million surplus on parking operations. Source: <a href="http://www.a2dda.org/downloads/Resources/BudgetFY12_Final.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2dda.org/downloads/Resources/BudgetFY12_Final.pdf</a> Given that $9 million surplus, one wonders why OUR DDA needs to take $4 million from cash strapped schools. Answer: because they can. It is far past time to disband the DDA. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:43 a.m.
The DDA is partially financed by "tax capture" (a lovely term) that takes money from, among other places, the AAPS, the AADL, the WISD, and WCC. Since my tax dollars go to all four of those agencies, the DDA is playing around with MY tax dollars, and likely yours, too. GN&GL
halflight
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
If the DDA paid for it, it's not "your" money, unless you live within the development district in a building completed since 1982. The DDA is financed with tax increment financing on new development built within the downtown district after 1982. See <a href="http://www.a2dda.org/about_the_dda/how_we_are_funded/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.a2dda.org/about_the_dda/how_we_are_funded/</a> The DDA has done a terrific job managing the parking garages downtown, which previously were poorly maintained by the city government. The city council won't disband the DDA because it is a revenue generator, despite all the Bolshevik squealing.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
Our? Have you moved?
Jojo B
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
"Mayor John Hieftje said in July he wasn't sure what more the city could do for the businesses" Seriously, give these two businesses some financial compensation comparable to the income that they lost and maybe even a little extra for pain and suffering. Jerusalem Garden and Earthen Jar deserve something other than empty promises that construction will be done soon. Construction ALWAYS takes longer than promised, is noisier than promised, blows dust and exhaust everywhere, and don't forget the sinkhole incident that almost destroyed the Earthen Jar's building and could have easily gobbled up a car in the back driveway. A $50 million project must have included some sort of compensation analysis for nearby businesses. Right? Right, city council?
ranger007
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:57 a.m.
If and when it does open the few people who do park in it will have to dodge the pan handlers sleeping on the heated ramps.
ranger007
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:52 a.m.
All the money THEY could have used is being chucked at the cross walks to figure out out how to make that bad idea work.
regularjoe
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
It doesn't really matter to me when they finish. I'll never drive my car into that (money)pit. I just feel bad for the businesses that to suffer at the hands of the almighty DDA. Oh, and in other news, parking rates have been raised again :)
djm12652
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:51 p.m.
not only raised, but no longer are there half hour increments....parking validation now takes two of those little stamp things.
BobbyJohn
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Ryan Could you find out if there is a completion guarantee on the project?
Cameron
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
I think its sad they can put all these businesses in tuff spots and trust me not just the two they allways talk about it has hurt many downtown businesses just open the street. I dont care about the structure anymore it's not going to bring in anywhere the amount of traffic it has prevented. JUST OPEN THE ROAD.
Cameron
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.
the DDA is ran by the same people who run the goverment in ann arbor.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
A2comments: It's not the city. It's the DDA. You know, an organization dominated by businessmen who don't depend on welfare, who don't need handouts, and who aalways, ALWAYS are more efficient and make better decisions than the slobs who run our government. [sarcasm button to "off"] Good Night and Good Luck
A2comments
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:33 p.m.
Of course there isn't. Why would the city hire a contractor and hold them accountable? What do you think this is, the private sector?
Jon Saalberg
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
"Pollay later indicated in November the DDA was aiming to open the street sometime in January." Maybe a bit of wishful thinking, that. And so the Ann Arbor Big Dig saga continues.
A2comments
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
It's simple - they have bad aim...
DeeDee
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.
This has been an incredibly warm winter - and they can't get finished on time? I sure hope that the DDA had some kind of on time completion requirement with a penalty for being late in the contract. Maybe they could use part of it on behalf of the businesses in the area which have suffered so much because of this project - which still hasn't shown it will actually provide any benefit to the community.