DDA using flawed data to rationalize outcome for Connecting William Street program
Very good article (“Eyeing the future: Ann Arbor developers and officials see potential with city properties downtown” 9/23). Sadly, it shows that for all of the talk of an open, public process, the Downtown Development Authority is, once again, engaged in using flawed data to rationalize a pre-determined outcome for its Connecting William Street program. Hurray to Ed and Peter for their outspokenness and common sense.
The DDA did a survey for CWS which had 2000 responses. Independently analyzing the data from that survey (in particular, the open-ended questions) showed the vast majority did not want the city to put short term financial gain ahead of the long-term, highest and best use of that land. It also showed a high percentage cited parks, water features, plazas, etc., when asked what they found attractive or memorable in urban areas, and, by implication, what they would like to see somewhere in our downtown.
Yet the DDA has ignored this data and plunged ahead, asking if people want the dense, denser, or densest scenarios, with only a postage stamp of public space on the library lot. The Parks Advisory Commission just resolved that more downtown green space be placed downtown.
The Calthorpe Plan, sponsored by the DDA several years ago, after the most exhaustive public process in the city's history, identified the Library Lot, specifically, as a public gathering space/park/plaza.
Study after study shows that well-designed and properly-sited public spaces increase the value of the surrounding properties, encourages density around them, and encourages people to live and play nearby. Merely, selling off and building up every square-inch of public land with no thought to public amenities would be a tragic mistake.
The least the DDA could do would be to add another "scenario," asking if, and where, the public thought open public space should be placed. If the DDA continues to ignore the public outcry for a genuine public space in the center of town, they justly will be perceived as having held another sham process instead of what they claim truly is an open attempt to gain public input.
Eric Lipson
Ann Arbor
Comments
Veracity
Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.
The DDA may be disbanded in a couple of years when its annual budget deficits finally deplete its reserve fund causing it to become insolvent. Because of its financial fiasco the DDA wants to quickly facilitate construction of large high-density projects in order to generate more tax revenue based on each building's valuation. However, the DDA with the help of City Council is defeating its own purposes by returning most taxation to developers as reimbursement for Brownfield remediation and site development. Furthermore, the DDA does not mind the risks of encouraging speculative developments, some with poor business models, which also disrupt the quaint small town character that Ann Arbor citizens value as highly.
Joel A. Levitt
Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 4:45 a.m.
Plubius, Thanks for you reply. The total capacity of the Library Lane underground parking facility is 763 parking spaces. So, almost 7 of 8 spaces are unused. The cost of constructing the facility was about $50 million, so the construction cost per parking space was about $65.5 thousand. After this parking fiasco, I wouldn't trust the DDA to plan or operate a newspaper stand.
Joel A. Levitt
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
Owners of small down town enterprises complain that they pay their dues and get no benefits in return. In my experience, hardly anyone uses the underground parking. What an expensive fiasco. Now, the DDA has the audacity to propose another boondoggle. It's time to disband the DDA.
Plubius
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
Wrong on one count: The new lot is being used. By 9:30 am on weekdays, there are typically 100+ cars.
snapshot
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 9:44 a.m.
Surveys with questions designed to offer only answers that will reach a predetermined conclusion? From an entity feeding at the public troth without accountability to the electorate? Manned by appointed cronies who continue to support each others personnal agendas and visions regardless of the public good or its wishes? C'mon, not in Ann Arbor where these officials have positioned and insulated themselves from the citizenry allowing them to function without consequence?
Richard Carter
Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
I think you mean public "trough." "Troth" is loyalty or truth... of course, they probably want the public's loyalty. I don't think they're getting it these days.
lynel
Fri, Oct 12, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
It's time that the DDA is abolished!
Arboriginal
Fri, Oct 12, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
It is time for the DDA to become a public entity that the public votes on if this is how they are going to conduct business!