Peace Out
Talk About Town appears to think that any Ann Arborite would just know, but we’re perplexed: what is a “peace tree” and why did the Downtown Development Authority hire Republic Parking to hire Heritage Landscaping to replace one?
Talk About Town appears to think that any Ann Arborite would just know, but we’re perplexed: what is a “peace tree” and why did the Downtown Development Authority hire Republic Parking to hire Heritage Landscaping to replace one?
Is it one of those posts you see outside Unitarian churches with “Peace on Earth” written on it in multiple langugages, maybe? I guess that wouldn’t so much be a tree, per se.
posted by Brandon on May 4th, 2004 at 6:42 amHey, thanks for stopping by the rained-out sale Saturday!
posted by icecreammotor on May 4th, 2004 at 7:44 amYour “peace tree” link is wrong - it points to the story about the poisoned plants in Northfield Twp.
posted by tom on May 4th, 2004 at 7:50 amhttp://seattle.shmeng.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=66&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
Check this article out ” Ann Arbor: Seattle’s Sister City.” Apparently AAIO’s memes have spread to the West Coast.
posted by Lukcy Jackson on May 4th, 2004 at 9:21 amWhat’s the difference between a peace tree and a peace pole?
There’s a peace pole in front of my High School that’s at least 14 years old. (If it’s still there.)
posted by Steven on May 4th, 2004 at 12:42 pmthanks, Tom…fixed the link.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on May 4th, 2004 at 1:15 pmoh, and rj, was good to meet you. I hope Sunday was a more successful selling-stuff day.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on May 4th, 2004 at 1:19 pm“In the United States, most Peace Poles are made from western red cedar, a wood that is a renewable resource.”
As opposed to all those other woods that are not.
posted by Brandon on May 4th, 2004 at 3:17 pmInside information.
The City Hall landscaping was done without input from land development folks in City Hall. It was done with DDA (read tax $ not paid to City Hall, but kept and used by downtown merchants for their benefit) money.
But the real inside info is that the parking lot on Ann St, across from City Hall, that also got a sprucing up is privately owned property, paid for by the DDA (tax dollars). Indeed that parking lot isn’t even zoned for use as a parking lot, yet the city pays the owner to rent is as such.
The DDA has way too much power.
posted by too close for comfort on May 4th, 2004 at 3:36 pmWhat are you getting at? Does the landscaping of City Hall benefit the downtown merchants at the expense of others?
And what do you mean by “sprucing up” of the structure on Ann? Does the city rent it out from the owner? If so, then why is it bad that taxpayers pay for upkeep and maintenance?
And no, I’m not involved in the DDA.
posted by todd on May 4th, 2004 at 4:21 pmWow-$15,000 for some rocks, flowers, and a tree, my goodness. Why was it double-subcontracted? I don’t see why Republic Parking would be involved in the subcontracting, unless that parcel of land was somehow under its jurisdiction.
posted by Laura on May 4th, 2004 at 6:56 pmYour tax dollars at work, folks.
posted by Mr. Mindboggled on May 4th, 2004 at 8:47 pmCould Republic be fronting for the DDA? Using Susan Pollay’s largesse and influence to curry favor in city hall? Is the DDA funneling tax dollars through Republic to fund public projects?
There is no structure at the corner of Ann and Fifth Ave. It’s half a private lot and the other is rented(?) to the city. All in all, it’s private property that isn’t zoned for parking, yet the city rents it and uses it for that purpose. The city also “allows” the owner to rent out the other half as a private parking lot. All of it in violation of local zoning ordinances.
todd, you should be concerned. For the taxes you pay…
posted by too close for comfort on May 4th, 2004 at 9:56 pmNo offense guys, but none of this sounds out of line. And you are being incredibly naive.
Next time you come down to my place, take a look at the accessible ramp to the door on our north side. Any clue as to how much it costs? $7,000. That’s right. $7,000….and that doesn’t include the cost for the GC. $15,000 doesn’t get you to 1st base in AA.
As to your charges of subcontracting, if you are going to make physical or structural changes to a property that you are leasing, you damn well better not only tell your landlord, you better get their approval for all of it. What is so strange about the property owner handling the contracting? That’s SOP from where I sit.
Maybe this will explain it better: pretend you own a house, and a tenant decides that he wants to spruce up the house to the tune of $15,000. Now, are you just going to let the tenant do it him/herself? Or are you going to let the tenant hire some firm that you aren’t familiar with, without looking at the plans?
I’ll tell you what you are going to do. You are going to be involved in every step in the process because YOU are the one with the note, and YOU are the one who hopes to retain the value of the property. In fact, I would call you a fool if you didn’t handle every step of the process yourself….including finding a contractor.
And another thing. You know how all of you glossed over the woman’s comment that inspectors have been out to the site almost every day? Add $1,000 to the cost of the project each and every time an inspector shows up at the site for no reason. Ask yourself why being close to the inspectors office would have anything to do with how often the inspectors come by? They are supposed to come by at assigned stages of a project, and this is set forth by the building department.
Given the information in the article and the “inside” information that “too close..” gave, none of this sounds out of line at all.
posted by todd on May 5th, 2004 at 11:50 amtodd, what’s out of line is that:
1) the property (ann & fifth) in question is not zoned for parking. yet, it’s been improved as if it did comply with zoning req’s.
2) it’s improvement of private property at taxpayer’s expense.
The DDA improving public rights of way is one thing, but paying Heritage Landscaping to improve private property is imho, something else entirely.
posted by too close for comfort on May 5th, 2004 at 1:11 pmToo close,
This may not be viewed as an improvement from the perspective of Republic and/or their bank. It may be, and probably is, only an improvement for the current user….and you tell me that this is the city. Pretend you own the property….do you really think that you can get a reassesment of the property, and have the property come in at another $15,000 in value? And if it is, and you own the property, are you going to open your checkbook to pay the extra tax that you now have to pay for the property? This isn’t a house, it is a parcel of land from what you have told me.
First of all, there is no chance that the property has now improved in the sense of value. You can’t go to a bank with the deed to a flat piece of land and say that “now it has pretty trees and rocks, so fork over another $15K”. These improvements are useless if you currently own the property….you get your value from it from either leasing it (which they already do), or from selling it, and I guarantee you that they won’t get more money for the property because of some silly landscaping.
Another example from my business….we had to put in 440v power into our building for our use. The landlord didn’t muck in for this….why? Because 440v power has no value for them. They don’t need it, and their bank doesn’t care that we have it. It is therefore an improvement for the current user (us), but has no value to the owner (them).
Now if you tell me that Republic has now raised the rent that they charge to the city to use this property that has been “improved”, then you are on to something. I suspect that this isn’t the case.
As to the zoning….obviously the city has some need for parking, so why does this bother you?
And lastly, do you really think that this is the only example of AA taxes going to private “improvements”? This happens all the time, and I don’t have a problem with it at all. Our business was started with a Michigan SBA loan that was guaranteed with your tax dollars.
posted by todd on May 5th, 2004 at 1:43 pmI guess it’s ok for government to “wink” at the rules when it suits them. And I must be naive to expect that the rules apply equally to everyone. And to believe that our government and bureaucrats are supposed to set the standard for responsible and fair behavior. What a fool I have been.
It’s no different than Chief Oates getting “reprimanded” for breaking the law. If it were you or me, we’d get the ticket and pay the fine.
If you were to suddenly declare that you wanted change your business use without seeking a variance or another legal method, you’de be shut down and in court so fast it would make your head swim. Yet when it suits the city they do what they damn well please.
Indeed, todd, it’s your laissez faire attitude that allows government to play by a separate set of rules than the one’s they expect other to play under.
posted by too close for comfort on May 5th, 2004 at 4:24 pmWell, close,
It looks like I’ve assuaged all of the problems that you have had with this issue save one:
The misuse of an improperly zoned property.
We had MAJOR differences with the City regarding zoning….and it cost us tens of thousands of dollars. I absolutely loathe the two-faced nature of AA and its government.
I just happen to think that you are splitting hairs on this one.
If the City went to the City and applied for a variance from the City, and the City granted the variance to the City to allow City workers to use a parking lot for work purposes, would you be satisfied? Feeling silly yet?
Personally, I think that having the City use labor and resources to grant itself an exemption to a useless zoning ordinance is a waste of taxpayers money and time. Do you honestly think that the City would turn the City down for the request for variance? No chance, and that’s why I really don’t care about the paperwork. It’s semantics, and nothing more.
And I share your views on Oates behavior, for what it is worth…..not a very smart move.
posted by todd on May 5th, 2004 at 5:00 pmtodd the ass uager. Wotta guy
posted by Anonymous on May 5th, 2004 at 5:45 pmYou are so right. What the hell am I doing discussing serious stuff on AAIO?
Guess I’m just grumpy that I have to work inside on such a nice day.
I’m an ass.
posted by todd on May 6th, 2004 at 10:46 amFor another take on the DDA, see http://www.wfzimmerman.com/article.php/20040502143750375.
posted by wfz on May 6th, 2004 at 2:04 pmMaiboch, Todd. It’s May. Got the Maiboch yet?
posted by js on May 7th, 2004 at 9:49 amNo, but I have started to produce fruit brandies….Pear, Apple, and soon the berries.
I have also produced a more citrusy Gin that will be released in a few weeks.
PS….check out the “new” Les Savy Fav album “Inches”. I think that you’ll like it.
posted by todd on May 7th, 2004 at 11:08 amI have some of the singles that became the album, and like ‘em. I do feel burned by the last proper album I bought from them, as it didn’t stand up…
posted by js on May 10th, 2004 at 3:36 pmLooking forward to the gin.
And hoping for blackberry brandy. I used to go to a bar called Lili’s in Hamtramck, and Lili used to call blackberry brandy “Polish rocketfuel.” Good memories (better than the brandy, which was always that bottom-shelf shit with the beige label).
js
Hey, I’ve been to Lili’s in Hamtramck, too. Years ago.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on May 12th, 2004 at 10:41 pmIt was a great bar. Too bad it’s gone.
posted by js on May 15th, 2004 at 8:19 amjs