Time capsule in new underground parking garage will document life in Ann Arbor in 2012
What will Ann Arborites of the future think of us in the year 2112? Well, that partly depends on what they find when they unearth a soon-to-be-buried time capsule.
As part of the completion of the Library Lane underground parking structure on Fifth Avenue, the Downtown Development Authority is placing a time capsule in the floor of the garage, with expectations that it'll remain there for the next 100 years.
The DDA is putting the call out and asking members of the community to contribute items that say something about life in Ann Arbor in 2012.
This time capsule, currently in the DDA offices at 150 S. Fifth Ave., awaits its burial next week.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
"It's a chance for all of us one day to be a piece of the history," said DDA Executive Director Susan Pollay. "So let's make it interesting for them and come up with some fun things. We're not limited by space."
Pollay said the idea was inspired by longtime Ann Arbor resident Ray Detter, chairman of the Downtown Area Citizens Advisory Council.
Detter has worked tirelessly to help DDA officials and others remember the past, to remember Ann Arbor as it was — even as we live here today, Pollay said.
The DDA is holding a grand opening party from 5-8 p.m. July 12 at the site of the new parking structure at 319 S. Fifth Ave.
There will be cake, music and a unique collection of vintage cars on display as a preview of the Rolling Sculpture Car Show.
DDA officials are asking members of the community to come out and bring along items for the cylindrical time capsule, which is about three feet deep with a 12-inch diameter.
"Some of the things that we've gathered, just to give you a sense — there is a Borders gift card, so we'll write up something about Borders: It was here, it came, it went," Pollay said. "But what was Borders and why was it important? It sort of gives us a frame of reference."
DDA Director Susan Pollay
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Anyone wishing to contribute an item also can stop by the DDA's offices at 150 S. Fifth Ave. or email dda@a2dda.org.
Pollay said she may donate her copy of the specs for the $50 million parking garage so future generations can look back and say: "It was only that much money?"
DDA board member John Mouat, a local architect, joked at this week's meeting: "We need a Susan Pollay and John Splitt bobble head."
Splitt is past chairman and a current board member for the DDA and has been heavily involved in overseeing the parking structure project since it started in 2009.
Groups like the Ann Arbor District Library and Main Street Area Association are helping the DDA get out the word about the time capsule and encouraging people to contribute.
"I think a time capsule is a lovely idea" said Library Director Josie Parker. "As a formal contribution, I haven't decided yet what we might do."
Pollay said the capsule will be encased in concrete at the bottom of the Division Street pedestrian staircase. She said there will be a plaque onsite noting its location.
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
arborani
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
Future generations will say, "Gee, we still have the same City Council now as we did then."
ypsicat
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 2:03 a.m.
Well, I think a parking ticket would be most appropriate!
shepard145
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
A century from now they will look back on the global warming fraud so many buy into today and LAUGH AND LAUGH. "......hey mommy, why were they so stupid back then? Did they also think the moon was made of cheese back in 2012?..."
shepard145
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 4:13 p.m.
TB76 I pity those who are largely unaware of the chain on nonsense that leads them to believe the global warming fraud. But they are comfortable that they have been "well educated" by the biased, corrupt, ignorant, national press they watch on "the tv" for hours each day. You are fine with the "belief" that ice core bubbles in the presence of liquid water constitute pristine historic air samples regardless the FACT that they conflict with actual historic atmospheric measurements by over 600%. You think that atmospheric CO2 levels control the earth's weather. You think that CO2 created by human activity is heating the planet to such a great extent that humans control the earth's weather with daily consumer decisions. You entrust democrat politicians like intellectuals Debbie Pelosi and Steve Chu to develop policies that spend trillions borrowed from the Chinese that once spent by obama campaign contributors will make the earth colder even as AMERICA DECLINES. Knowing there is a trend is NOT THE SAME AS HAVING THE OPTION OF CONTROLLING THE TREND. But if obama manages to claw his way back into the white house, you won't have to worry, YOUR carbon foot print will be smaller as America continues to decline. By the way, who said there were WMD's in Iraq? Was it Bush? How long were the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq? Consider that the talking heads you rely on for your continuing education have an agenda that your are unaware of.
shepard145
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
I agree with Brad, speaking of no-science knuckleheads, can you imagine any serious scientific discussion taking place with Debbie Pelosi and Al Gore in the room!! LOL These two both share prestigious 4 year liberal arts degrees in "Government" but regardless if "….downright superstitious and idiotic.." were granted all the credibility they needed to help collapse the UNITED STATES ECONOMY over a complete fraud! But hey, they're from the GOVERNMENT so forced themselves to the table! If only a list could be created of those qualified to lead our nation! We could all join together, dump this FRAUD and TAKE BACK AMERICA. Somehow we could all have a say in the process and using our voices, "elect" those who are not ignorant socialists arrogantly dreaming of tearing down the nation and rebuilding it their own twisted image. …then our new leadership, lets call these adults REPUBLICANS, who will ride in, clean house and RESTORE AMERICA. Like my buddy Brad here, vote like your future depends on it – because it does. Put that in the time capsulel!
Brad
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
Hopefully people will look back and question why 21st century no-science knuckleheads even had a seat at the table in the first place. Then someone will tell them about the disturbing tendency the media had then to give equal time and respect to both sides of a story, even when one of the sides was cleary wrong if not downright superstitious and idiotic. Then someone will tell them that one of the major media outlets would call that "fair and balanced". And then they'd all have a good laugh.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
Actually, you're looking (and thinking) in your rear view mirror; no one believes right wing propaganda anymore. Anti-education and anti-science attitudes were fads which (thankfully) ended with the Bush era. But hey, if you still want to find some of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, go right ahead and buy a plane ticket for Iraq. :-) Which may make your comment here worth putting in the time capsule, then people could get a laugh over how stupid a few right wing holdouts were as late as 2012. BTW: your global warming "fraud" is currently doing a fine job of breaking all-time record highs for some time now, so it's kinda ironic that you'd go on record with your "skeptical view" of an obvious and scientifically verifiable fact. Your empty bombast isn't getting much help from the National Weather Service. LOL!!
whojix
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.
I'd like to submit one of Susan Pollay's pay stubs to the time capsule so future generations can look back and say "they paid her that much?"
David Cahill
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
My guess is that this parking structure will be a big success, especially with Barracuda folks taking a bunch of spaces. Also, I think people will be pleasantly surprised by its open design, natural lighting, and other features. Some of these have been previewed in the media.
Brad
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Yes, Barracuda will "successfully" occupy those subsidized parking spaces. Woo hoo. I guess that makes the whole thing a smart idea and a big success, right? Rah! Rah!
a2jean
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 6:21 p.m.
Shaky Jake! He WAS Ann Arbor, beloved by citizens. I don't have anything with his image, but if anyone still has a "I brake for Shaky Jake" or photos, those would be worthy additions. Final copy of Ann Arbor News / first copy of AnnArbor.com News articles over the past few years about what to put on top! Ice rink, convention hotel, etc.
Stephen Landes
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
I would like to be wrong about the DDA and Susan Pollay, but the more I read their quotes and thoughts and the more I see of their piecemeal "planning" for downtown which now has us building a new bus depot across the street from the new parking garage, the less faith I have in these people or their organization. How tone deaf can one be to actually say, "It was only that much money?" Even if the idea is that 100 years from now $50 million won't seem like quite so much money it is still a stupid thing to say. That statement could be the epitaph of the DDA.
Goober
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
I agree with you. Typical actions of someone who spends knowing it is not their money, they will never be held accountable and they are not responsible. What's going to happen to this bunch if they make a bad decision and waste millions of our dollars? Nothing. Absolutely, nothing!
smokeblwr
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 4:43 p.m.
How about some thick-rimmed glasses, skinny jeans, an iPad, and a PBR? That sums up 2012 AA.
Ron Granger
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Can we vote to encapsulate the DDA? How about voting to move their offices to the lowest level of the parking structure?
Barzoom
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Don't worry...The parking garage will be demolished and the hole filled in within the next 25 years. Our government buildings only last 20 or 25 years before the city wants to tear them down and build new. The time capsule will probably have to be up-dated and buried again.
einy
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
Personally I think they should put the project length in there. Then they can laugh about how long it took to build.
Goober
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
I think it should include a doobie butt, a CTN banner and a pedestrian crossing violation ticket stub. :)
Basic Bob
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
I think we called it a roach. I bet some folks at the U know if they make acid-free rolling paper.
SMC
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
It seems odd that they would do this, since under the Mayor and city council's plan, it will be all but impossible to drive a car into downtown long before the capsule is scheduled to be opened. Perhaps
BernieP
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
A tiny FLASH card with information on it would be useful, but then there would need to be instructions on how to read out the contents of the FLASH card. I'd suggest the including in the contents of the A2SO programs, the ARK schedule, the UMS schedule, the film schedules of the film festivals for 2012. Then menus from various restaurants around town. And finally, the shortened synopsis of all the PhD thesis that were in defense and approval from the Universities in town.
Brad
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
I would love nothing more than to see the DDA become history. Their performance on the Garage Mahal should be reason enough.
Ron Granger
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
How do you encapsulate the boondoggle that this project was and put it in the time capsule?
motorcycleminer
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
This is Ann Arbor it's easy..form a mayors select ? committee for 100K then have a german " artist " figure out how to encapsulate it for 750K ...call it art ...."tag " the container..have a DDA ribbon cutting ceremony..and hang it in the bomb shelter for all the world to admire......done deal...Duh....
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 10:57 a.m.
"Pollay said she may donate her copy of the specs for the $50 million parking garage so future generations can look back and say: "It was only that much money?" either that or they will say..."they spent money on an underground parking garage?"
alterego
Sat, Jul 7, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.
They won't need an underground garage for the flying cars. They'll need tether lines.
a2citizen
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 5:58 p.m.
Or they might ask, "What the hell is an underground garage?"
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 10:48 a.m.
A 100 year time capsule? This isn't 1950 anymore. They do realize the ability to store and disseminate information has taken a bit of a turn since 1950 don't they? My guess is some snot nosed kid with a 2112 version of a smart phone will be able to tell the gathered crowd of politicians whats in the thing before they dig it up.
A2comments
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 10:43 a.m.
Put in the original project plan for the garage, then all the revisions including missed deadlines and over spending. Same for the infamous sculpture.
Les Gov
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 10:37 a.m.
oh.... good grief charlie brown
motorcycleminer
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 10:16 a.m.
" It was only that much money " ..what planet do these people come from...some day they'll put a nice bronze plaque ( maybe from the by then scrapped fountain ) on the entrance with just one word on it " Folly "....
Stephen Landes
Fri, Jul 6, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
rhymes with Pollay