Who We Are

The mission of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is to undertake public improvements that have the greatest impact in strengthening the downtown area and attracting new private investments.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Act was passed by the State of Michigan in 1975 to give municipalities an economic development tool they could use to rebuild and reposition their downtowns, increase taxable values and encourage private investment. Created in 1982, the Ann Arbor DDA has done a great deal since then to improve the attractiveness, walkability, and vitality of downtown. The DDA is well-known for its large infrastructure projects including constructing parking structures, installing transformative streetscapes, and running the City of Ann Arbor’s public parking system. The DDA also works on a variety of smaller projects in support of its mission, including providing free bus passes for downtown employees, installing bike parking, and providing grants to encourage the creation of new workforce housing units.

The DDA utilizes a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) mechanism to finance many of its projects. The DDA’s TIF is derived from some of the new taxes generated by new building construction in the DDA District, which is then directed into downtown purposes with the goal of encouraging economic growth, greater tax values, and private reinvestment. The A2 DDA TIF does not include tax increases created by property value escalation or by inflation. Thus, as the Ann Arbor DDA works to generate increased economic activity in the downtown, one of the important offshoot benefits is tax revenue growth through increased valuations of downtown real and personal property.

The Ann Arbor DDA District encompasses 67 city blocks, or approximately 271 acres. Of this total, 80 acres are public rights-of-way, 72 acres are in public use, 42 acres contain UM properties, and approximately 1/3 of the DDA District is contained within an historic district.

The work of the DDA is done by a small staff and a Board of twelve citizens appointed by the Mayor and City Council. DDA members volunteer their time, talent, and expertise to the DDA for the benefit of the downtown. They serve four-year terms and work through committees to accomplish the goals of the DDA.

Download the DDA 2003 Renewal Plan (PDF)
Download the DDA 1982 Plan (PDF)
DDA Boundary Map (PDF)
DDA Parking Area Map (PDF) (Per City/DDA Parking System Agreement)