Construction starting on Ann Arbor’s Lowertown project

By the time this story is published, construction on Ann Arbor‘s Lower Town will be 24 hours under way. Workers began building the mega development, also called Broadway Village, Wednesday and hope to finish it by late 2009.

Strathmore Development Company is redeveloping 7.3 acres at the southeast corner of Plymouth Road and Maiden Lane long dominated by brownfield site composed of a vacant shopping center and a handful of other old commercial buildings. Those buildings will be replaced with a large mixed-use development meant to compliment the nearby University of Michigan Hospital and Lower Town district.

The $171 million development consists of seven buildings that will include residential, retail, medical and office space in a walkable, urban setting. Of the development’s total square footage, 226,118 square feet of it will be for 185 upscale residential rental apartments. Another 138,275 square feet will be dedicated to commercial retail space and 152,689 square feet will be built for office space. There will also be a 760-unit parking deck.

That section of the city’s north side is a popular place for UofM medical students and staff to live and the development has been controversial with some of the area’s residents. Hundreds of apartments and condos have been developed there along the Huron River and close to noted local institutions, such as the Northside Grill.

Source: Strathmore Development Company
Writer: Jon Zemke