The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

11C - Fall 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom liC - Fall 2014

PICK-UP GAME


New high-rise
projects to move
forward near 'U'

Construction
seeks to offer 'wide
appeal' through
urban-loft styling
By HILLARY CRAWFORD
Daily Staff Reporter
JAN. 24, 2014 - Two develop-
ment companies have received
authorization from the Ann Arbor
City Council to build new high-
rises near campus.
One building will be built on top
of the south side of Pizza House
at 624 Church Street, near South
University Avenue. The 14-story
building will consist of 76 units,
74 percent of which will be either
one bedroom or two bedrooms. It
is projected to open to tenants in
August2015.
University alum Bradley Moore,
owner of the Ann Arbor-based
architecture firm J. Bradley Moore
and Associates, will oversee devel-
opment and construction of the
high-rise above Pizza House. The
restaurant's owner, Dennis Tice,
and Opus Group, a Minneapolis-
based development company,
partnered with J. Bradley Moore.
Moore likened the atmosphere
of these new apartments to an
"urban loft" style, adding that the
development company intends for
them to have a wide appeal.
The building is estimated to
cost $17 million, although the
specifics of the construction plan
are not yet solidified. After the
plan is approved and a building
permit received, the surrounding
area south of Pizza House will be
demolished.
In addition to housing units, the
new building will also feature an

outdoor seasonal dining area on
the first floor.
The housing addition near pizza
house has been in the works for
years. A decade ago, J. Bradley
Moore designed an addition to
Pizza House intending to expand
it in the future - including a stron-
ger foundation that would accom-
modate a larger structure.
"When we designed the addi-
tion to the Pizza House, we actu-
ally had enough foresight toput in
extralarge foundations to preserve
the ability to someday inthe future
build vertically on top of that part
of the building," Moore said.
The second high-rise, with its
construction overseen by a Con-
necticut-based real estate firm
called Greenfield Partners, will
be located at 413 E. Huron St. and
Division Street. It will be 14 stories
high and include 513 bedrooms
and a two-floor underground
parking facility. The construction
is estimated to cost $45 million.
Both the former and cur-
rent owner of the property were
unavailable for comment.
The approval of its construction
was a controversial move by Ann
Arbor City Council, The Michi-
gan Daily reported. The Coun-
cil was originally opposed to the
structure's potential commercial
infringement on the community's
atmosphere but feared that the
developers would file a lawsuit if
their petition was denied.
Moore acknowledged that
while receiving approval from
the Ann Arbor City Council is
challenging for larger downtown
construction projects, the process
went smoothly for the Church
Street structure.
"I think there's a great demand
right now for housing anywhere in
the downtown area," Moore said.

ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily
LSA junior Kenyon Calhoun tries to block LSA sophomore Jarreau Boyer's layup during a pick-up game of basketball at the Palmer Commons courts on
September 11, 2013.
Cafe open4"s on East Liberty St.

k
S

JU
Sweet
opene
locati
forme
Liber
Th
izes it
from
the w
pany
Knigh
ton N
Turtl
noodl
earlie
space
yet be
Bre
Chac
Interr

Eco-friendly responsible for leasing the two-
story, 44,000 square-foot facil-
wcation fourth ity, said their goal has been to
maintain a high level of diver-
weetwaters in sity among businesses.
"As soon as we started leas-
Ann Arbor ing, we had almost every fast-
food restaurant imaginable call
By JOSH QIAN us right away wanting to get
Daily StaffReporter into the building, but we didn't
think that was the proper fit
LY 19, 2014 - Monday, and wanted to do the leasing
twaters Coffee & Tea correctly," he said. "We tried to
d its fourth Ann Arbor select a good variety of retailers
on in one section of the and restaurants."
r Borders building on E. "Sweetwaters is a wonderful
ty and Maynard streets. tenant and a great addition to
e cafe, which special- the building," he said. "They are
n featuring tea and coffee local, they have a great brand
different cultures around and a great image."
rorld, is the fourth com- Sheila Li and her husband
to open in the building. Roy Xu, owners of the new
it's Steakhouse, Hunting- Sweetwaters cafe, said they
ational Bank and Slurping were happy to be able to share
e, a Japanese sushi and more of the Sweetwaters expe-
e restaurant, all moved in rience with Ann Arbor custom-
r this year. Several other ers.
s in the building have not "It has been very exciting
en leased. to have the grand opening and
ndan Cavender and Jim to see customers come in and
onas, brokers at Colliers enjoy the atmosphere and the
national who have been design of the store," Li said. "We

already have a steady customer
base, since Sweetwaters have
been in Ann Arbor for over 21
years."
Li also highlighted several
unique sustainable designs of
the store, including LED light-
ing, an energy-saving instant
water heater, motion sensors for
lighting control and a self-suf-
ficient green wall that features
live plants, as features she was
particularly proud of.
The cafe will be the first cof-
feehouse to be certified LEED
by the U.S. Green Building
Council, she said. LEED certifi-
cation indicates that a business
has met certain construction
and building prerequisites that
reduce the impact they have on
the environment.
Sweetwaters founder Lisa
Bee said they are thrilled to be
in the East Liberty space. The
energy level and the business
at the new cafe have been great
and it's getting busier every day,
she added.
"We have a lot of students
who are customers," she said. "I
really think students are going

to make the cafe their own and
we'll adopt to their taste."
Slurping Turtle Sous Chef
Juan-Paulo Garcia said his
restaurant, which neighbors
Sweetwaters, has been success-
ful since itsApril 21 opening and
the location has exceeded their
initial expectations.
"Sweetwaters will be a great
addition and will definitely
bring a lot of foot traffic to the
area," he said.
Medical School student Erin
Conrad said she is very excited
to have another coffeehouse to
use as a study spot near campus.
"Since this store is close to my
apartment and Central Campus,
I'll most likely visit Sweetwa-
ters more often than before,"
she said. "I also like their music
and the seating arrangement is
great."
As for the rest of the build-
ing, Cavender said a lease has
already been signed for one of
the two empty spaces left, an
8,000 square-foot space fac-
ing Maynard Street, and nego-
tiations are currently underway
for the other.

I

Passionate about writing?
Have an eye for photography?
Love creating new designs?
come join us at the
MICHIGANENSIAN
YEARBOOK

Kappdtheta Pi
Professional Technology Fraternity
As a Co-ed brotherhood still in i's toddler years,
we're a growing crew working to build a better
world. We offer dozens of opportunities for
professional growth, from interview workshops to
professional photo-shoots. We have an in-house
Development Team to help you build the apps
of your dreams and pitch your great ideas. If
you're technopassionate, you belong with us. All
majors are encouraged to rushl

SF-IEl
M AG AZ IN E
/Pti6Y F6E$, yT/V1,V6-4'fP

...and, most importantly, leave your
mark at Michigan in a legendary
publication entering its 119th year.
Not interested in such a great
opportunity, but still want the
memories of your college years
 after graduation?

Find out more at kappathetapl.com
Follow us on Twitter @kappthetapi
Any questions? Shoot an email to our
Membership Chair at sbolin@umich.edu

a~~~u HEY nai
EFF ~DABGARGOYE
Are you interested in any of the following?
Humor Writing Marketing
Illustration Design
Job opportunities in the entertainment industry
Youtube videos of cats and laughing babies
Then join the Gargoyle Humor Magazinel
Killing trees as theofficial source of
campus humor since 1909
Come to any of our weekly meetings:
Friday at 6 at the Student Publications Building

pay easily online with your stu-
dent account or credit card
www.michiganyearbook.com

_..., ..E William S
Ij
S rnnfr4 1i rn~ Shii nt Peh ib-rntirsnc 4911n Arns.'nel

For further information
feel free to email gargmail@umich.edu