Ann Arbor student high-rise wants to host South University block party in September
Landmark high-rise on South University and South Forest wants to host a "pep rally" block party in September.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Texas-based American Campus Communities — the owner of the 14-story high-rise on the corner of South University and South Forest near the University of Michigan campus — wants to close a block of South University on Sept. 6 for its “Beats, Eats and Cleats in the Streets” event.
Landmark is requesting that Ann Arbor City Council approve the closure of South University between South Forest and Washtenaw Avenue from 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, until 2 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The event precedes the University of Michigan night game against Notre Dame on Sept. 7.
“This event is a welcome to new and returning students and will have a pep rally, live music, food trucks, inflatable boxing, and other entertainment. Alcohol will not be served,” a city notice says.
The actual Beats, East and Cleats in the Streets event would take place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 6. South University in front of Landmark would be closed before and after the event to provide time for equipment set-up and cleanup.
The block party is part of increased creative marketing efforts by Ann Arbor’s new student high-rise buildings, which are competing to attract tenants.
Last year, Landmark sponsored a fraternity tailgate party, designed “Live at Landmark” T-shirts and distributed specially marked sunglasses.
City Council will consider the street closure request at its Aug. 8 meeting.
The South University block Landmark wants to close for a "pep rally" stretches from South Forest to Washtenaw Avenue.
City of Ann Arbor
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
treetowncartel
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
They used to close this section of street off for parties back in the 80's. I learned a lot as a a teenager at those things.
spaghettimonsters
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 8:03 p.m.
No.
AA Neighbor
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
Never mind street closures, the main question is who is going to police this and why should the AA taxpayer foot the bill? This will attract the worse sorts of people who prey on students. As a taxpayer, I don't want to be in the business of providing constant supervision so that overly-sated teenagers can be entertained until their brains melt. If this is the only way the landlords can fill their tenement house, then they should shut it down and go back to Texas. Our City Council will be derelict of duty if it OKs this proposed event or anything like it for aggrandizement of private businesses. There's already enough private profit at public expense in Ann Arbor.
mady
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
BAD IDEA.
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
A2.com, can you find out how much U of M is paying to keep S. University closed during that construction? Is it the same amount anyone would pay to have a street closed for multiple months?
LXIX
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
The trashing of quaint South U by highrises like Landmark was applauded by the University as a means to help solve their student bed shortage. Maybe the favor should now be returned in kind by trashing up the Diag with its little party.. Could even set up a free beer pong table on the walkway M-blem as a show of public/private partnership and spirits.
PersonX
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
This would set a terrible precedent. Should Huron be closed to sell the horrid Varsity, etc? Let the corporations run parties in the buildings--that is what they are for.
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
The precedent has already been set - Ann Arbor is for rent.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.
So it is okay if big corporations take over city streets to hol for-profit marketing parties. But how many small private parties, on private property, get shut down by roving police patrols - even when there are no complaints, and early in the night?
Soothslayer
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
Haha... NO. These $1000/more beds with all the privileged kids are already full time stoner parties. Don't believe me? Just visit any floor when school's in. Don't need to have additional police expense, red silo cups littering the streets and hassle. Ruin your own lands Texans, not ours.
DJBudSonic
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
Isn't this the traditional day for the Mud Bowl party on that same block? How many parties do we need? Also, I think that the city staff, through some clever street maintainence scheduling and outreach, is having the developer of the building pay for a decent amount of the street repair. This news was given by Jane Lumm last month when she referred to Forest as looking like " the surface of the moon" in council communications.
CLX
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
I'm guessing that no one believes that the developer is paying for a darn thing when it comes to the streets -- the developers usually just get variances and subsidies, and we keep handing them out...
DJBudSonic
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
Don't know what deserves down votes here, would you all rather that we pay for the street repair damage caused by development?
cfsunlet
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
Any occupancy percentages available for this high-rise?
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
Not that I have right now, but I will see if I can find out.
racerx
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
Alcohol will not be served. LOL! Which doesn't mean students won't have access to alcoho. Students. An all day party. Right! UM police get ready for overtime. Not only do they now have to police the stadium due to the night game against Notre Dame, they will have to contend with this all day block party. Ok, I count at least six assaults occurring within this period.
mady
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
Six? you're being waaaaaay too modest!
Veracity
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
Another desperate effort to attract student lessees for what must be an under occupied student highrise. Saturation of the luxury student highrise business was bound to happen with all of the new buildings opening in the last two years. And the Varsity is opening this year as well! Will any students be available next year to occupy the Village Green City Ann Arbor Apartments and possibly Craig Schubiner's Packard Park the following year (if he can ever get financing)?
spaghettimonsters
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 8:07 p.m.
I can say that my partner and I would have loved to have a reasonably priced (for what it would be) high rise apartment. We're young professionals who could afford such a thing in Chicago. In this forsaken student building? Never. And what they're charging is utterly ridiculous.
DJBudSonic
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
It would be nice to get an accurate figure on the occupancy rates for this recent construction boom, to inform the current A2D2 zoning review. A council members offhand remarks that these places are pretty full does not match what I have heard from a campus leasing manager, who tells me less than 60% full in aggregate, one building is only 1/3 leased; either could be true, how can we find out?
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 3:09 p.m.
I've heard city officials say in the last week that AA City Apts has only four units left. I don't have that verified, but the developers have said the demand is high from working professionals
a2cents
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 1:14 p.m.
What could possibly go wrong? NO !
Chester Drawers
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
"Alcohol will not be served." And can you also assure us that it will not be drunk? Didn't think so.
mady
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.
Chester, I agree! the party stores will be stocking up on beer, etc.
Pizzicato
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:13 p.m.
I predict disaster, including multiple arrests. Probably a really bad idea. Block parties work well in communities, where long-time residents (and, more specifically, property owners) get together to celebrate. Throwing a party for a bunch of $1,000-a-month-per-bed trust fund babies who have little connection to the community other than the length of their annual lease just sounds like a very poorly thought-out idea.
B2Pilot
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 9:52 p.m.
the weekend after move-in with all the new frosh in town looking for something to do before class's really start- flush with cash. eh, what could possibly go wrong?
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.
Anybody know a synonym for "riot" that rhymes with "beats"?
oyxclean
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.
who needs a synonym? Beats works for me!
yohan
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 10:34 a.m.
They should close Forest instead of South U. Yeah, the street they ruined during construction and now taxpayers have to pay to rebuild.
Ignatz
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.
Yohan, To be fair, Forest was already very much in disrepair when construction started. Of course, the heavy vehicles and other related activities accelerated this ongoing damage. I do like your idea of using that street, though. I can't imagine the trip hazards that would be present.
Brad
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.
Doug Harvey - now there's a blast from the past :)
P. J. Murphy
Mon, Aug 5, 2013 : 11:34 a.m.
Any chance of getting ex-sheriff Doug Harvey to be the honorary MC of this shindig? He has job experience with large social events in this part of town. Just don't let him near the tear gas...