In July 2002, the University of Michigan purchased the Planada Apartment Building located at 1127 East Ann Street. The building, already surrounded on all sides by University parking lots, is the latest victim of the University's buying campaign on the Medical Campus. In order to make room for megalithic new buildings, the University has purchased and bulldozed a number of homes, apartment buildings, and small businesses in the area.
Although some change is necessary to support the growth of the University, the purchase of the Planada building threatens to destroy not only a unique building, but also a pleasant, walkable hill area. While the University's urban planning experts advocate mixed-use cities, university planners are slowly transforming this section of Ann Arbor into a Bladerunner landscape of huge buildings, and equally huge parking garages.
Ironically, the Planada building is located one block away from Zina Pitcher Drive, the street named after the former U-M Regent and Detroit Mayor who helped found the U-M Medical school, and just down the street from the 1854 Detroit Observatory, a building which was nearly destroyed before University historians and preservationists intervened. The Detroit Observatory was one of the first University-operated scientific research facilities in North America.
Saving the Planada Apartments, or at least incorporating some of its architectural elements into a new residence hall, would preserve the livability and sense of history of the hill area. If you are interested in helping in my efforts, please email Planada@umich.edu.
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| 1121 and 1127 East Ann Street, Ann Arbor,
Michigan On a motion by Regent Maynard, seconded by Regent Brandon, the Regents unani-mously authorized purchase of the properties at 1121 and 1127 East Ann Street at the negotiated price of $2.49 million, subject to the University’s satisfaction with the terms of the sale, includ-ing environmental condition of the site and additional due diligence. Land procurement funds will be used to complete the purchase. |
| Apartment purchase approved Approval also was granted to purchase the Planada Apartments on East Ann Street from the Draprop Corp. for just under $2.5 million. The existing tenants in the 26 apartments will be allowed to complete their leases. University-owned property surrounds the two parcels, including the soon-to-be-constructed Biomedical Science Research Building across the street. |
| Historic building deserves 'Revival,'
could serve as student housing To the Daily: I read with interest the Daily's editorial (Housing hold-up, 02/07/03) regarding the lack of new residence halls on campus. Right now the University is planning to demolish the historic Planada Apt. building at 1127 E. Ann St., which could be easily converted into student housing. This 1929 building, designed in an interesting Spanish Revival style, was a historically-protected building until it was purchased by the University last year. Now it seems to merely be in the way. It would be great if students rallied to save this building as a potential new residence hall. The University has too long neglected the housing needs of the students and this would be a wonderful opportunity for everyone. Susan Wineberg University Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations |
