S Fifth Ave (Library Lot) Parking Structure Project
The DDA has selected Carl Walker, Inc. to design an underground parking structure in the location that is currently a surface parking lot on South Fifth Avenue between Liberty and William, immediately north of the Main Library.
When constructed these additional parking spaces could greatly reduce the waiting list for monthly parking permits and would allow a significant increase in hourly parking spaces that will be accessible for downtown workers, residents and customers of the State Street and Main Street areas.
The DDA treats parking as part of an overall transportation system and we invite you to learn more about the 2007 Parking Study as well as the significant work of the DDA supporting alternative modes of transportation downtown.
Why Parking and Why Underground?
Increased parking in the downtown core will be of significant assistance to downtown residents, customers, library patrons as well as the many downtown workers and business owners in this central district. Please review the findings of the 2007 Parking Study to learn why vehicle parking is needed even with extensive investment in alternative transportation.
Constructing this parking below ground helps the city double the value of this city owned property, with parking below and the area above made available for a wide variety of potential uses.
The project team includes the following members:
- Michael Ortlieb, Project Manager Carl Walker, Inc.
- Carl Luckenbach, Luckenbach Ziegelman Architects
- Doug Kelbaugh, Kelbaugh Associates
- Deb Cooper, Beckett Raeder Inc.
- Francine Alexander, Alexander Resources Consulting, LLC
The design of the structure will occur between April 2008 and October 2008. Throughout the process community residents, business owners and patrons of downtown parking will be engaged to ensure the emerging design aligns with community values and preferences for amenities within the structure.
The following outline is an overview of milestones in the design process:
April 2008
- Development of conceptual designs
- Interviews and survey of residents, parking patrons, elected and appointed officials and business community members
May 2008
- Community Open House to review and provide feedback on conceptual designs
- Selection of single design for schematic design development
June 2008
- Development of schematic design
- Community Open House to review and provide feedback on schematic design and costs
July and August 2008
- Refinement of schematic design and cost estimates
- Beginning of more detailed Design Development
September 2008
- Site plan presentation to Planning Commission
October-November 2008
- Review by City Council of final site plan
Examples of Underground Parking Structures
Background Information and Data
The DDA Mission is to undertake public improvements that have the greatest impact in strengthening the downtown area and attracting new private investments. The 2007 Nelson/Nygaard Comprehensive Downtown Parking Study determined that “strategies for addressing an anticipated development demand for more than 50, and as many as 100, new monthly-permits each year over the next five to ten years should be a top planning priority for the DDA and the City.” Various alternatives were explored to address this need to construct approximately 500-1,000 new downtown parking spaces, and it was determined that the “center city” or core area would be the optimal site for additional public parking.
In early November 2007 City Council voted to request that the DDA analyze the feasibility of constructing an underground parking garage on the South Fifth Avenue parking lot, including the following components:
- A minimum of 500 underground parking spaces, at least 150 of which shall be reserved for public hourly parking and not available for monthly permits;
- The possible construction of a new east-west street, including on-street meter parking, running between Fifth Avenue and Division Street, along the south property line of the Fifth Avenue parking lot;
- The underground parking garage shall be designed to support above ground, in the short-term, surface public parking, and in the long-term, development which could include, but is not limited to, a residential, retail, and/or office building(s) and a public plaza along either Fifth Avenue or the newly constructed street;
- A proposed timeline for completing the new underground parking garage on or before June 30, 2010;
- Specific cost estimates, including costs for land acquisition (if any); and
- Any noteworthy strategic issues requiring City Council consideration;
Working with its engineers and the Director of the Ann Arbor District Library, the DDA provided the City with its report in early January and held a work session with City Council to discuss their recommendations. In early February 2008, City Council approved a “Resolution Authorizing the Downtown Development Authority to Design and Construct an Underground Parking Garage on the City-Owned South Fifth Avenue Parking Lot” which authorized the DDA to design and construct an underground parking garage under the South Fifth Avenue lot with at least 500 parking spaces, subject to approval by the City Council of the project site plan. The site plan must be submitted by late summer 2008 and is to include pedestrian and vehicular circulation between Fifth Avenue and Division Street, along the south property line of the South Fifth Avenue lot, and the underground parking garage shall be designed to support above ground, in the short-term, surface public parking, and in the long-term, development which could include, but is not limited to, a residential, retail, and/or office building(s) and a public plaza.
Underground Garage at South Fifth Ave Report
Underground Garage at South Fifth Ave Drawings
City Council Authorization Memo (pdf)
Data from Soil Borings (pdf)
Huron, Fifth, and Division Traffic Study (pdf)
Contact Us and Request Updates
To contact the project team please send us an email. We are happy to answer questions and remind you of upcoming citizen surveys and community Open Houses as the design progresses.