Ashley Mews Enters Final Phase
Ashley Mews is entering the Final Phase of its operation, according to signs posted outside the townhouses that read simply “Ashley Mews, Final Phase” and then list a phone number. Apparently, this phase involves launching a website with breathless prose that almost rivals that of LoFT 322. But instead of employing Urban Hip [tm] to attract potential residents, the Mews goes a more traditional route. “In the finest tradition of Boston’s Back Bay and Georgetown in Washington D.C., the Ashley Mews brownstones and lofts blend the excitement of contemporary, in-town living with the urban grandeur of a bygone era.” Once this way of life could be found in cities all along the East Coast; now that Boston and D.C. are desiccated and past their prime, you have to go to Ann Arbor.
The condos in the 414 Main building that are also part of Ashley Mews don’t inspire any ludicrous geographic comparisons, but are, if anything, more opulent than the townhouses. Offering “complete customization to compliment [sic] your discerning taste,” they have “a level of luxury exceeded only by your imagination.” Of course, at LoFT 322, your home is your canvas, which implies that the level of luxury is roughly comparable to your imagination.
I think they mean by “final phase” “a desperate attempt to lure people into investing in $400,000 brownstones with no yards situated next to a freight train line often used at 3:00 AM on a drab corner of a boring city.” I love especially their page with views from the penthouse - downtown Ann Arbor - just looks so….exciting.
I think anyone thinking of joining Ashley Mews should first read this recent craig’s list response to someone asking whether they should move to Ann Arbor. Did any of you write this? It sounds like me but I swear I didn’t do it.
posted by DrMandrake on April 4th, 2005 at 1:50 pmThat was me - you know I’m always complaining about the fat chicks in Ann Arbor.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on April 4th, 2005 at 1:55 pmI have no problem with the Ashley Mews built form — I would move in there in a second if I could afford it (who needs a yard? That’s part of the problem of sprawl). “Brownstone” is a complete misdescription, however, an attempt to lend it a false historic feel. Brownstone refers to a particularly kind of quarried sedimentary rock (out of the northeast). Ashley Mews is simply “brick veneer.”
posted by Dale on April 4th, 2005 at 2:13 pmSure, AAiO, sure. I’m fairly certain you dig the pork and go hoggin’ every chance you get. YEEEE HAW!
posted by DrMandrake on April 4th, 2005 at 2:29 pm“Stately, two-, three- and four-level homes enjoy an overlook of the Mews…”
Is there a some landmark in Ann Arbor called “the Mews”? Are they like moors? ‘Cuz that would be cool. Or do they just look out over themselves (isn’t it an ad for the Mews?). Do you have to be worthy of these “elite, landmark” “homes” to be able to see Mews? Inquiring minds want to know.
posted by Anna on April 4th, 2005 at 2:31 pmActually that website has been around for years, even before construction of the Mews really got underway. We made fun of it in our office at the time.
Anna, ‘mews’ is a chiefly British term, used in the plural, referring to stables with living quarters surrounding a courtyard, or living quarters adapted from stables. They are usually found on narrow streets in larger cities. Nothing to do with nature or moors, I’m afraid.
posted by KGS on April 4th, 2005 at 3:11 pmNo, I think “compliment” is right. When you sign the contract, they customize the unit by stenciling “My, AAiO, what discerning taste you have!” on every flat surface.
posted by Murph on April 4th, 2005 at 3:31 pmMews refers to the lodgings in which falcons were kept in England, and mutated through time to refer to any alley (eventually picking up an unsavory connotation of skullduggery). Which, of course, is why they’re perfect: they sound archaic, adding gravitas to a new development, but have come to mean something skeevy, which the developers had no idea about.
posted by js on April 4th, 2005 at 3:56 pmWelcome to my $400K view of the sketchy alley. Only discerning tastes here. Perfect.
posted by Anna on April 4th, 2005 at 4:08 pmAnd I just thought it was really expensive cat lodging.
posted by Dave on April 4th, 2005 at 7:52 pmFunny you mention that, Dave. I am actually talking with developers about breaking ground on a brownstone pet shelter which we’ll call “Ashley Meows.” It will be animal ONLY dwelling (hopefully in Kerrytown; close to Zingermans would be nice). Our investors are “very interested,” so keep your fingers crossed!!
posted by Boris on April 4th, 2005 at 11:03 pmI don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but there is a lifestyle video on the LoFT 322 site now. My favorite part is where they show the inside of an Ann Arbor night club and a guy popping open a champagne bottle while the orange text reads “a reason to celebrate”. And I was under the impression that the clubs here weren’t worth waiting in line for.
posted by Anonymous on April 5th, 2005 at 12:25 amDale asked (who needs a yard? That’s part of the problem of sprawl)?
Those of us with 75 pound dogs and gardens do.
People actually stand in line to get into clubs here? Damn, I wouldn’t even do that in NYC.
posted by Alex(andra) on April 5th, 2005 at 7:46 amIf you could pick up the whole development and move it to Chicago, $400K would be a bargain.
posted by Anna on April 5th, 2005 at 9:54 amAlex — don’t blame the dog for your desire for a yard. Dogs need lots of outdoor time, but not necessarily their own yard. The garden is a different story.
posted by Dale on April 5th, 2005 at 10:02 amThat’s true. My 80 lb dog did absolutely fine in my apartmen; she got regular walks, hikes, and romps in the park. In fact, she probably got more exercise than my current dog, who has a yard but sits by the back door most of the time because she gets bored out there alone.
posted by Anna on April 5th, 2005 at 10:12 amMews is directly across the street from Baker Commons. A HUD subsidized living center for diabled (Mentally & physically) and the elderly. God bless them. It is a fairly good building with generally good (but some very weird) people. It also attracts its share of streetpeople looking for a warm place to sleep. The chiller in the summer is also right on Main st. which produces a loud hum/whine all summer long. The tenants pay almost nothing for a one bedroom apartment right on Main st. While the peopl across the street pay 400,000. What a country.
posted by Ypsidweller on April 5th, 2005 at 10:39 amI assume the Mews folks aren’t using “located right across from some very weird street people” as one of their selling points.
posted by Dave on April 5th, 2005 at 11:19 amRe: The Lifestyle Video
That may be the most unintentionally funny thing I’ve seen ever. Well… maybe not the funniest, but that was hilarious. They may have shot every single downtown Ann Arbor storefront/venue in that thing, at least on State and Main.
“A Modern Lifestyle… Where Else?”
I don’t know. Give me a sec to think about it.
posted by Jen on April 5th, 2005 at 2:40 pmCan I ask a dumb question? Where’s Loft 322 going? I can’t picture the location as I drift to sleep in my cubicle. Isn’t Herb David there or is it across the street where all the failed restaurants on the semi-above-ground floor are by Intl Minute Press?
My second dumb question would be, who the hell can afford this stuff? I guess it’s better than spending the same money to buy a multi-gabled monstrosity in a converted cornfield but damn that’s some big dollars.
posted by Thomas Cook on April 5th, 2005 at 2:48 pmActually my dog got way more exercise at the dog run in NYC than he gets in the yard. Except for when the other dog that lives with us is also out there and then they run rings around the entire thing.
Some yards are less evil than others. Mine has no grass (by and large) and the entire lot–house, yard, and garage combined–is probably the same footprint as one of those “brownstones” anyway.
posted by Alex(andra) on April 5th, 2005 at 3:01 pmThomas - I think it is going up on that empty space right next to Seva. As to your second question - not me. But I’d rather be stuck in a potato sack with seven weasles on a hot summer day than buy a place in Ann Arbor.
posted by DrMandrake on April 5th, 2005 at 3:04 pm“But I’d rather be stuck in a potato sack with seven weasles on a hot summer day than buy a place in Ann Arbor.”
This quote is going on my wall. I actually got a visual.
No, no. Thank YOU DrMandrake.
posted by todd on April 5th, 2005 at 3:27 pmare there still potatoes in said potato sack? (just trying to complete the mental image).
posted by Anonymous on April 5th, 2005 at 4:44 pmWell, there can be potatos in there. It’s YOUR mental image to play around with. Except I forgot to mention ’stuck naked’ Mandrake
posted by Anonymous on April 5th, 2005 at 5:39 pmDammit, people, it’s not Loft, it’s LoFT.
posted by Dave on April 5th, 2005 at 6:08 pmY’all ever hear of “ferret legging?” Google it.
posted by KBlow on April 5th, 2005 at 6:44 pmyikes! where did you come across that particular passtime?
posted by OFWinsurgent on April 5th, 2005 at 7:22 pmI read about it in Harper’s WAY back in the day…
posted by KBlow on April 5th, 2005 at 8:59 pmwhy am I addicted to a blog whose regulars discuss ferret legging?
posted by Joy on April 5th, 2005 at 9:18 pmBecause there’s nothing else to do here?
posted by Anonymous on April 5th, 2005 at 10:02 pmIf you google “loft 322″ you get AAIO before you get the official LoFT 322 website. Talk about subverting the brand.
posted by Anonymous on April 5th, 2005 at 10:19 pmgoogle “Santorum” if you want to see subversion in excellent form.
posted by OFWinsurgent on April 5th, 2005 at 10:25 pmWhat would best be linked to aagreenway.org?
posted by Kblow on April 5th, 2005 at 10:51 pmK: aagreenway.org?Or aagreenway.org?
Just as a note about that video, they have trademarks visible (and plenty of copyrighted works). I doubt they got clearence for everything, and they’re using it for private gain (which pretty much takes it out of free use, unless it’s news, which it’s not). It’s just something that occured to me when I saw the U-M bits in there. Wonder if they got clearence for that? The U’s notoriously litigious…
posted by js on April 5th, 2005 at 11:54 pmjs - I love ‘em both.
posted by KBlow on April 6th, 2005 at 10:21 am“Mews” - in the naming of Ashley Mews, refers to the pedestrian walkway through the complex.
Think of a neighborhood with rear-loaded garages off an alley at the backs of lots, behind the homes, then convert the garages into dwelling units. The alley becomes a mews. (I know it’s a bit hard to imagine, since everything built around here seems to be garage fronted monstrosities.)
The mews is a public amenity and is meant to connect between downtown and the Old West Side. It’s private property, but there is a public easement for access through it.
As to “Brownstone” - it is completely a term the marketing people wanted to use. Dale is completely right; those aren’t brownstones.
posted by Archipunk on April 7th, 2005 at 5:12 pmArchipunk- Look up the etymology of Mews. It comes from falconing, and those “alleys” in London became known for their crime.
posted by js on April 7th, 2005 at 6:27 pmRegardless of the meaning of “Mews”, I think the idea that one would pay a premium for a view of a sidewalk (e.g., “view of the Mews”) to be pretty funny.
posted by Anna on April 8th, 2005 at 9:31 amI agree with Anna on this. A view of the sidewalk would afford you a view of the comings and goings of your neighbors (plus a few indigants and skate punks). Would this be Ann Arbor’s premium voyeur community? Only selling to people who leave the shades up and the blinds open?
posted by A Different Jon on April 9th, 2005 at 3:29 pmjs: Archipunk- Look up the etymology of Mews
I don’t dispute that that is one of the meanings of mews. But I’m sure falconry was not on anyone’s mind when that project was named.
posted by archipunk on April 12th, 2005 at 2:59 pm