Ann Arbor's Ashley Street shut down for downtown hot tub installation
Richard Van House watches from the roof of his Ashley Terrace condo as his hot tub swings into place Tuesday afternoon.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Richard Van House faced an unusual dilemma: How to get a 1,000-pound hot tub onto the roof of his penthouse condo in downtown Ann Arbor.
Today, the retired Ford Motor Co. executive had three lanes of traffic closed on Ashley Street just north of Huron as crews from Redford-based Connelly Crane used a 120-ton crane to place Van House's new purchase atop the 125-foot Ashley Terrace Condominiums building.
"It was the only way to get it up," said Van House, who retired two years ago after 40 years with Ford. "There's not a freight elevator in the building or an elevator that's large enough to take it up, so this was it. It was either this or a helicopter, and this was cheaper."
Vickie Van House takes pictures through her window as a crane begins to haul a hot tub into place atop the roof of Van House's Ashley Terrace condo.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
The three east lanes of North Ashley, between Huron and the access drive to the Greyhound bus station, were blocked off for about four hours. The city approved the lane closure and traffic detour.
"We had to get permits to block off the street," Van House said, standing at the corner of Huron and Ashley as crews positioned the crane for the lift.
"We've been working on this project for some time, getting all the necessary approvals and so forth," Van House said. "To preserve the warranty on the roof, we actually had to build a platform that it's going to sit on, and the roofing company came in and re-roofed over the top of the platform just to make sure we didn't have any leaks."
Crane operator Jon Wolf said this isn't the first time he's had to hoist a hot tub to the top of a condo building.
"We do them a lot - hot tubs, swimming pools, you name it," he said. "Just about anything that needs lifting."
Van House said he purchased the hot tub from Lifestyles Hot Tubs on Jackson Road.
"It's a five-person hot tub, so it should be good up there. It's got all the bells and whistles on it," he said, suggesting it'll be nice to be able to use it this winter.
"My wife is anxious to get it up there and have it operational so she can use it and our grandkids can use it," he said. "This is pretty exciting."
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
delete this profile
Tue, Nov 24, 2009 : 4:42 p.m.
Funny how so many people are posting that this is a stupid story..if so, why did you take the time to read it? The headline makes it pretty clear what you're about to read. Anyway, it's no one's business what this guy spends his money on. It's HIS money. He doesn't have to give one penny away if he doesn't want to. Are all of you going to take the equivalent of what you would have spent on your kids Christmas presents and send it to a charity instead? After all, food is more important than toys...
RWC
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 9:56 p.m.
Hey Dan T., put in the good word for me with Mr. Van House. Hope the family is doin' well. The girls will love the hot-tub. RWC
Black Coffee :)
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 5:30 p.m.
good article to read with a good hot black cup of coffee:) to Mr. and Mrs. Van House congratulations on your retirement have fun this winter with that hot tub and for the posters who cannot see this as a good story may be your coffee was cold cold coffee :( sets me off to
carey jernigan
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 9:26 a.m.
This is not news. Lots of people who live downtown have hot tubs installed this way.
gobluefnp
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 8:55 a.m.
I think we should just enjoy this article for what it is. Interesting. Isn't it possible that someone saw a huge hot tub floating in the air yesterday and wondered what was up? Here is the answer. I know economic times are hard for everyone,(contributing to crabbiness) but it is so disturbing how intolerant we have become as a society.
iMissMyNewspaper
Wed, Nov 11, 2009 : 8:45 a.m.
Stuff like this should not be "published" here. Ridiculous.
Ann Arbor Mom
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 10:49 p.m.
Why are people criticizing this guy for buying a hot tub? Did he earn it? Yes. Are others entitled to what *you* have if they are less fortunate than you? No.
huh7891
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 10:09 p.m.
Yes, shutting down the road seems a bit excessive, but seriously why so critical about what he spends his money on. Hot tubs may be a luxury for some, but you can buy one for a reasonable amount of money. He bought local and is keeping it local. Funny no one blinks when an auto line worker or average joe neighbor goes out and buys a boat or snowmobiles or other toys, which can be considerably more expensive...
peihaha
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 10:06 p.m.
Our neighborhood blocked the entire street when we had the block party. You can totally do that with a good reason. It's not to say that everyone on the street attended the block party, but we could still block the street. I agreed with some folks though, why is it so important that annarbor.com needs to broadcast it? And I wonder why and who would want the entire city to know that they own a huge hot tub in their expensive penthouse. And now everyone knows where they live. This is something I don't understand, where is their privacy?
voiceofreason
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 9:01 p.m.
Its good to see that people who can afford $950,000 penthouses are moving into the downtown area. With the mismanagement of city funds in the past few years, Ann Arbor could use the increase in the tax base.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 8:51 p.m.
why does this upset people? why are there comments he should be giving money to the poor? we don't know what he gives or not gives. I bet he gives a decent amount. He's free to spend his earnings however he wishes to. He paid taxes. So what if he closed a street down and that irked you. He got the necessary permits. Followed the rules. at least he bought local, unlike the German artist and his gushing recycled rain water, sexually suggestive "art" the city will soon have in front of the new city hall building.
Let's Live Intelligently
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 7:09 p.m.
Ann Arbor needs to get cracking on urgent revisions to the building code. Every new building of this size should have a freight elevator adequate to haul a hot tub to the penthouse level and beyond. Maybe Santa and eight reindeer, too....
fosho09
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 5:08 p.m.
I've read all the comments...cracks me up all the haters out there. Shoot...this guy spent the past 40 years working his butt off...let him enjoy it! It's good to see this after all the crap that other people are doing in the community. Everyone has a "shoulda" "coulda" "woulda" story...but he won't have one now! Good for him :)
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 4:31 p.m.
If it's that easy, perhaps we could organize a tax protest for some day this winter by getting permits to close several city streets at once. Might mean some extra business for local hot tub stores, and pool table stores, and exercise equipment stores. Heck, Little Johnny has gained so much weight that the sidewalks can't hold him any more. Better block off the streets for his walk home from school.
Doug Boynton
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 4:16 p.m.
First thing I thought (based on the headline) was that the writer of the story didn't approve. Doubly so, based on the third graf. I haven't changed my mind. Mr. Stanton - did you say to yourself, "The people need to KNOW why Ashley was shut down, and for what silly, self-indulgent reason!"
Jessica.Flood
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 4 p.m.
As a person too poor to live in Ann Arbor, with a long commute to work here, I was irked by this story. Spend or don't spend your money however you want, of course. But to close down three lanes of traffic for FOUR hours? So I guess this was during many peoples lunch hour? Admittedly, I don't read AnnArbor.com often enough. So maybe I missed it, but I hope there was a notice posted yesterday about the planned traffic block. I'm an hourly worker that gets a strict 1 hour for lunch. Being held up in traffic to run downtown errands is really stressful, but for the cause to be something as ridiculous as a 4-hour hot tub installation I guess this was a "fun story" for many, but for me it was just a bummer. p.s. $91.40 isnt enough to pay to block off traffic.
dotdash
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 3:54 p.m.
Hey rusty, my last comment was cut, too. And I wasn't even criticizing the guy, just engaging in some friendly banter with eyeheartA2 about opossum... go figure.
PersonX
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 3:02 p.m.
Why is the media, including this place, so obsessed with cuteness and trivia? Perhaps less can be more.... This is hardly something one can call "news"
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:21 p.m.
Man, looking at that picture makes me glad I live in ahouse at groundlevel. Not a fan of heights and I'd rather have the solitude of a yard. I wonder what they are going to do to keep the pigeons off the thing, since you can't have the cops come over and shoot them anymore.
dotdash
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.
No way, eyeheartA2, I would never post my budget here. I'm scared of you guys. :)
salineguy
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:18 p.m.
Right up there with the lovable panhandler story from last week. Way to go annarbor.com
azzicit
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:10 p.m.
Quit complaining that he bought something and should instead give his money away. Remember, people are employed making these things, transporting them to the store, selling them, installing them etc. Its not like the money he spent vanished. Not saying you shouldn't give to charities as I believe you should, but money spent on items---no matter how frivolous to you or me, still gives people jobs.
Frankyhollywood68
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:08 p.m.
what does a brotha have to do to get invited to a winter hot tub party??? :-)
dotdash
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:06 p.m.
You named yourself well, grimdaddy... As a famous man once nearly said, "I can't define excess, but I know it when I see it..."
justwondering
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 2:02 p.m.
It's probably not hard. You just have to get necessary permits and approvals from the city. I have a feeling that the permits are pretty expensive for something like this, take a lot of time to get, not to mention the expense of the crane.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:59 p.m.
I'm curious as to how a private individual gets permission to close a downtown street in the middle of a day. I wonder if the mayor will be attending the first hot-tub party.
grimdaddy1
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:54 p.m.
defenders of excess? are you the person who decides whats excessive or do you know who that person is? i was going to by a new t.v. but if i need to ask someone how to spend my money then i will.
John of Saline
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:52 p.m.
It just seems like such a strange topic for an article, in my opinion. It's an unusual event, is all. And a lot of people saw that something was up when they saw the crane in the street, so they wrote a short article. I assume getting it OUT of the place would be easier: cut it into pieces.
justwondering
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:49 p.m.
I don't think that it's so much that the guy is buying a hot tub, or is enjoying the fruit of a successful career that strikes people as odd. It's the nature of the article itself. I think it's more along the line of contrasts. We've been reading a lot lately on poverty in Ann Arbor and environs, the defeat of the school millage and looming layoffs, and then we get this article about how the well-off solved a logistical issue with the purchase of a discretionary luxury item. He may very well donate to many causes behind the scenes that we will never know about. It doesn't reflect positively or negatively on the people involved at all. It just seems like such a strange topic for an article, in my opinion.
dotdash
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:48 p.m.
Shoot. Not even humor can deflect the defenders of excess. Party on, hottub guy.
ladydi
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:44 p.m.
Hey....don't hate this guy...he worked at Ford for 40 years and is now enjoying his retirement dreams. Everyone's always talking about buying local, well..he bought the hot tub and the condo in A2! I'm just wondering how he likes his eggs!!;)
ladydi
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:37 p.m.
Hey....don't hate this guy...he worked at Ford for 40 years and is now enjoying his retirement dreams. Everyone's always talking about buying local, well..he bought the hot tub and the condo in A2! I'm just wondering how he likes his eggs!!;)
John of Saline
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:36 p.m.
dotdash, the people who make the hot-tub, the crane operators, etc. all have jobs and benefited from this, which helps the whole economy. What's wrong with that? And how do you know the guy doesn't spend a lot on charity? I remember when someone got on Liberace's case for all the extravagant outfits he wore, and he politely replied that he gave a similar amount of cash to charity yearly. I'll bet you were in favor of the federal "luxury tax" the Dems once briefly imposed on expensive cars, yachts, planes, etc. It cratered those industries, killing thousands of jobs of regular folks. And, it cost more money to administer than it brought in.
ownrdgd
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:32 p.m.
Money talks
Barb
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:29 p.m.
Un. Real. And yes, people still buy "those things".
dotdash
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:28 p.m.
Please don't print anymore stories like this. I'm trying to be a calm person. Must. Not. Feel. Resentful. (breathe) Must. Not. Wish. He'd. Spent. The. Money. Feeding. The. Poor. Instead. (breathe) Must. Not. Hope. He. Thinks. Of. Hungry. Kids. Every. Time. He. Sits. In. His. Hottub. In. His. Penthouse.
djm12652
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:26 p.m.
Well, of course he did...
Marvin Face
Tue, Nov 10, 2009 : 1:24 p.m.
People still buy those things?