INSIDER
Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority honored with Main Street Area Association Dennis Serras award
Read full article: Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority honored with Main Street Area Association Dennis Serras awardSince the pandemic started, Ann Arbor DDA has supported businesses in the area with several initiatives.
Red meter bags now designate quick pickup parking spaces in Ann Arbor
Read full article: Red meter bags now designate quick pickup parking spaces in Ann ArborANN ARBOR, Mich. – Need to quickly pick something up from a downtown shop but don’t want to pay for parking? Red meter bags now indicate which parking spaces in the downtown area are designated free, 15-minute curbside carryout spaces. The parking spaces were set aside in March by Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority as a way to help patrons and delivery drivers for restaurants and retailers pick up and drop off orders in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The new bags and signage are labeled with “no parking, 15-minute loading/unloading.”“This necessary change preserves spaces for the intended purpose of free, short-term parking, in support of the curbside carryout service many restaurants and retailers are relying on, and enables enforcement of the 15-minute parking limit,” said the city of Ann Arbor in its December newsletter. Previously, orange meter bags were used to designate the curbside parking spots.
Two Ann Arbor council members move to dissolve Downtown Development Authority
Read full article: Two Ann Arbor council members move to dissolve Downtown Development AuthorityANN ARBOR – On Friday evening, two resolutions to dissolve the Downtown Development Authority were added to Monday’s city council meeting agenda. “If you don’t have a resolution on the agenda, it’s very hard to have a discussion at council,” said Griswold. We’re in the midst of a pandemic and downtown businesses are on their knees and DDA is working hard to find strategies. Pollay said that during the winter months, downtown businesses will face their toughest test yet. “The DDA is the only City entity that has offered and provided support through this pandemic.”Monday’s city council meeting will take place virtually at 7 p.m.
ReVIVE All Zones brings ‘tactical urbanism’ to Ann Arbor
Read full article: ReVIVE All Zones brings ‘tactical urbanism’ to Ann ArborANN ARBOR, Mich. – A new project managed by the Arts Alliance is redescribing what a cityscape can look like. Through ReVIVE All Zones, the Ann Arbor-based organization has put out a call to Washtenaw County artists to bring “tactical urbanism” to the city. In a partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, the Arts Alliance is commissioning four installations around the city. “Tactical Urbanism” is a genre of art that is low-cost, scalable and ties together community engagement, collaboration and local understanding of neighborhoods. Washtenaw County artists can find application materials here.
Healthy Streets/People Friendly Streets program to begin this week
Read full article: Healthy Streets/People Friendly Streets program to begin this weekANN ARBOR, Mich. This week marks the beginning of the City of Ann Arbors Healthy Streets/People Friendly Streets program, which means changes for many local roads. The Healthy Streets program is an initiative by the city to promote physical distancing by increasing outdoor space for pedestrian use, while the People Friendly Streets project is an effort that aims to create safe, accessible, and green streets for the City of Ann Arbor. Packard Street from State Street to Hill Street Removal of turn lanes and addition of a separated bike lane in each direction. Packard Street from Eisenhower to Platt Closing the outside vehicle lanes to facilitate physical distancing and use by pedestrians and cyclists. For additional information and links to the Healthy Streets program and the People Friendly Streets project, visit the City of Ann Arbors website here.
Public parking facilities in Ann Arbor return to normal operations Monday
Read full article: Public parking facilities in Ann Arbor return to normal operations MondayANN ARBOR, Mich. On Monday, June 8, public parking facilities will resume normal operations according to the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. Staff are anticipated to return on Monday and modifications have been made to facilities, including social distancing reminders and plexiglass at payment centers. From March 18 to June 7, the DDA did not collect parking fees at public parking garages and non-metered spaces. Parking attendants were not on-site so as to reduce contact between drivers and staff. According to the DDA website, 150 on-street metered parking spaces will be available for free short-term parking for curbside pickup from Ann Arbor restaurants and retail shops.