Long Distance Runaround
Ann Arbor may not have much in the way of spectacular skylines or ocean scenery, but look on the bright side; it’s got lots of space and, if you look out far enough, a view of a tower that’s part of a cement plant. “Looking out across a long distance is itself exhilarating,” as the News puts it.
By the way, we’re in Chicago with pneumonia; we’re hoping to be back in town soon.
I do believe Ann Arbor spoils the Michiganders who aren’t used to such things as “hills”.
I do like my perch on top of the parking structure with a book, but damned if that view deserves such fawning. Way to live up to the blog name, AAiO.
“Perhaps, says Kelbaugh, developers could receive a bonus, such as one or two additional stories, if they would put a roof garden accessible to the public up top.”
Hahahahahahaha. Ha. Heh. Whew.
posted by Jen on September 13th, 2005 at 1:50 pmRight, public accessible roof gardens, that’ll happen in this city. Or anywhere - unless there’s a seperate means of accessing these roof gardens, no tenant would allow it. And if there isn’t a 10 foot tall fence, brace for a lawsuit.
If looking out across long distances is exhilerating, Nebraska is heart-attack exciting.
posted by js on September 13th, 2005 at 3:06 pmBut it’s not. So shut up.
Roof gardens? When are we getting our skyway for hanggliders?!!!!
posted by js on September 13th, 2005 at 3:07 pmHey take care of yourselves. And congrats on the Best Blog in Washtenaw County.
posted by Kozzie on September 13th, 2005 at 7:12 pmNot to start the whole, “AA is not Boston”, “AA is not San Francisco” thing again, but it is not totally uncommon for large office buildings to have publicly (at least during normal hours) accessible roof gardens. It might not happen but it ain’t out of the question.
posted by Peter on September 13th, 2005 at 7:57 pmI got news for you. After living in another, growing, Big 10 college town (there IS one?) the only way to build is up. Get used to it. Townies boast of the “Big House” and buy their UM car flags by the dozen. They’ll do anything to add seats to the top of the stadium and to preserve that ‘number 1′ status, but unless the city starts building *below* ground level, the only way to pack ‘em in is to stack ‘em in.
Stop yer whining you 5th floor dwellers. You pay the same rent as your 1st floor neighbors. If you don’t, you should. Get a $20.00 pass to the Metro Parks and go throw frisbee with your dog.
Ann Arbor wants to be big and first in everything except urban planning. It might disrupt traffic during a football game.
BTW, pneumonia sucks. I’ve had it twice in my lifetime.
God speed.
Blog on.
Sam
posted by Sam on September 13th, 2005 at 9:16 pmMight as well make use of the UM tunnel system if we’re gonna have to move underground anyhow.
posted by Jen on September 13th, 2005 at 10:58 pmI’d say let’s move underground and worship a nuclear bomb, like those freaky dudes in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes,” but the City Council had to go and ban nukes in Ann Arbor…
posted by Dave on September 14th, 2005 at 10:07 am1000+ points for “Beneath The Planet Of The Apes” reference.
posted by Real Big on September 15th, 2005 at 3:49 amThe rooftop gardens are a great idea. To build them, all you have to do is appropriate a little Nimby-language: call them rooftop greenways.
posted by morbidly midwestern on September 15th, 2005 at 10:05 amGreat idea - we can build high-rises along Allen Creek with rooftop gardens and Minneapolis/Calgary-style twelfth-story combination walkway-aquaducts between them. Then we can pump the creek up to the roof of the southernmost building and have it run along the rooftops, ending in a majestic waterfall into the Huron River.
Plus, this will probably reduce the cost of fire-safety measures in the high-rises.
Just watch out for heavy rains and make sure all important files are stored off-site.
posted by Murph on September 15th, 2005 at 11:59 amThere are no aquaducts in the +15′ or +25′ enclosed walkways in Calgary. They connect only the 2nd or 3rd stories of the downtown high-rises, where the retail stores are. They allow shopping to exist in the winter when it is -30 Celsius outside. There is a public indoor covered semi-tropical garden at the top of the plaza of one of the buildings. It’s on the 4th floor (Devonian Gardens in the TD building). I thought Calgary would be an urban planner’s delight, what with an extensive bus and light-rail system, tons of bike paths and jogging/pedestrian trails, and a central outdoor mall that once was a major street downtown. In fact, it was a twenty-minute door to door quick bike ride to get from my house to my job downtown, versus a twenty-five minute drive or bus ride (extra time taken to look for parking).
posted by JCP2 on September 15th, 2005 at 5:23 pmGood job.
posted by Sooc on August 7th, 2006 at 10:48 am