Demolished
An “Other Voices” column in the News lays the blame for lack of affordable housing in A2 at the feet of the University, which has demolished a number of apartment buildings over the years (as well as the historic houses the writer seems mainly concerned about, which, as a source of affordable housing, are questionable). The writer of the article, who is coming out with a book about defunct historic buildings called “Lost Ann Arbor,” is probably the sort of historic-house fetishist who writes A2 house fan fiction (that 1101 Washtenaw/534 Hill slash is sweet!) but it’s an interesting read nonetheless.
Funny that you should mention it, Hillary noted the other day that she wouldn’t be needing an old victorian mansion as she “doesn’t have servants”. If they want to keep them they had better figure out who’s going to use them and for what.
We’ve been discussing the huge old homes in Ypsi’s student ghetto and have come to the conclusion that they’re no longer useful. Ypsi plans to try to force owners to make them bigger and rent to families. They’re going to need P.T. Barnum himself to sell that idea.
posted by Steven B. Cherry on November 24th, 2003 at 1:36 pmWhatever, it still strikes me that the 28 apartments in that building the University just demolished are unlikely to be replaced with anything even remotely as affordable.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on November 24th, 2003 at 3:09 pmDidn’t Hillary mention something about how the houses are sometimes split up into apartments, and the new zoning laws would put a stop to that? Making them into apartments seems like a great way to preserve the architecture.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on November 24th, 2003 at 3:15 pmMany of us wanted the Ann Arbor city council to liberalize the zoning to ALLOW accessory apartments in houses in most of the city. It got shouted down, but I expect it will be back eventually.
I don’t know what Ypsilanti is trying to do, exactly, but they face a whole different menu of problems and constraints than Ann Arbor does. And those differences extend beyond the obvious.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on November 24th, 2003 at 3:24 pmRight on with that, Larry. At the rate Ann Arbor is losing affordable housing, they’re going to need alot more parking ramps for commuters. Vicious cycle, that one.
I think the trouble in Ypsi is the landlords, not the students. Under the proposed zoning rules, only 1-2 apartments would be allowed per house. I’m betting the slumlords will make those 12 apartments into 2 apartments and then charge 6 times as much, which will then prompt students to live 6 people per apartment so they can live close to EMU, which is probably harder on the houses than the 6 student living in 6 apartments.
Shortly after the houses are split into 2 apartments rented to 12 students, I’m betting that Ypsi makes the rule that no more than 2 unrelated people can live in a house together.
posted by Hillary on November 24th, 2003 at 5:04 pmAccessory apartments in houses, as Larry mentions, are a good idea for a number of reasons. They bring in income to the homeowner, probably offer a much healthier if less private environment for a student than a run-down apartment, the landlord is in situ when the ceiling light goes out, and, aside from students, accessory apts. are one good way for seniors to hang onto their homes in the face of rising property taxes and other costs, as well as giving a single senior some companionship. Makes me wonder why this eminently good idea was shouted down by the council…any other reason than anti-student attitudes?
posted by Laura on November 24th, 2003 at 8:50 pmShouted down, not by the council itself (which was moving the idea forward), but by a group of somewhat paranoid homeowners.
Greater housing density in Ann Arbor is essential, and accessory apartments are one of the gentlest possible moves in that direction.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on November 25th, 2003 at 1:47 amA lot of those old victorian mansions in Ann Arbor currently house co-opers. Maybe the revolution should look into starting an Ypsi co-housing movement.
posted by Murph on November 25th, 2003 at 2:05 pmI don’t know much about co-housing, but would like to learn more. It sounds like a better idea than the Robert Moses style plan Ypsi has in the works. Any reading suggestions on this subject?
posted by Hillary on November 25th, 2003 at 3:17 pmIt’s amazing that this ‘other voices’ columnist is trying to argue that the ‘U’ shouldn’t be tearing down the ‘historic’ buildings on the east side of division. I lived on the west side of division on the block she mentioned and while the houses on that block may be historic in the sense that they are old, I think ‘decrepit shitholes’ may be the best term to describe these buildings.
UofM is the driving force behind Ann Arbor and thus should be given special consideration to its needs. The people who constantly harp against multiple family homes, new downtown highrises, and the demolision of rundown ‘historic’ buildings are the ones who are creating the outrageous housing situation in AA. Blaming this on the university is ludicrous.
posted by James on November 25th, 2003 at 4:36 pmHillary, no readings off-hand, but you’re welcome to come visit my (student) coop when I get back to A2 and see how we work. After that, I’m sure you could get somebody at Hei-Wa House (on Miller, just outside of downtown) to tell you how they operate–they’re a more family-type co-op. I saw a comment somewhere on either AAiO or Goodspeed that mentioned living in Great Oak (in Pittsfield Twp.); maybe they’ll give you a tour of their place. Only problem with them is that they’re out in the middle of auto-dependant greenfield…
Oh, and I lied about readings. Cohousing.org has a cohousing intro, a faq, etc.
posted by Murph on November 25th, 2003 at 4:55 pmFor Hillary: to add to what Murph said, there’s a local cohousing organizer who holds three meetings a month for people to come & ask questions. For December the meetings are on the 4th, 14th, & 15th. Here’s the description from the Observer (full disclosure: I work for the Observer):
posted by Laura on November 25th, 2003 at 9:33 pm“Information about Cohousing”: All invited to learn more about a new cohousing community now forming. Cohousing is a term for an ecologically conscious, collectively owned, resident-planned housing development, such as the Sunward cohousing complex off Jackson Road. Nicola’s Books, Westgate Shopping Center (Dec. 4 & 15), location TBA (Dec. 14). Free. 663-5516.
I live at Great Oak which is in Scio Twp and is in fact in auto-dependent territory. A downtown Ann Arbor cohousing project would be excellent, the problem (or a benefit if you prefer) is that it would have to be retrofit cohousing and that makes it more expensive and harder to sell since homeowners (and appraisers) around here typically measure worth by square footage. Cohousing’s value is beyond square footage, but in order to attract enough folks to make it financially viable, it has to conform to some of the local norms…
posted by Adi on December 1st, 2003 at 11:12 pm