City & AADL Share Vision for the Surface of the Library Lane Parking Structure

During the past several weeks, City of Ann Arbor staff, City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. and Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) Director Eli Neiburger have been in discussions to develop a shared vision for the surface of the Library Lane Parking Structure (referred to as the Library Lane Parcel). These meetings resulted in a draft framework for the site.

“I appreciate AADL Director Neiburger for rolling up his sleeves to imagine a shared vision for this underutilized site,” said City of Ann Arbor Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. “This vision takes a site that has been the source of community frustration for years and transforms it into a downtown jewel that could address several community needs. To unlock the full potential of emerging opportunities, we must prioritize strong collaboration between public institutions as a standard practice for progress and development.”

In 2018, the Ann Arbor City Charter was amended by adding a new section 1.4 to Chapter 1. The amendment came about as a result of Ann Arbor City Proposal A for the city-owned public land — bounded by Fifth Avenue, and William, Division, and Liberty streets — to be retained in public ownership in perpetuity and developed as an urban central park and civic center commons to be known as the "Center of the City."

Moving the city- and AADL-shared vision for the Library Lane Parcel site forward will require several steps, including Ann Arbor voters voting to amend the Charter provision in an upcoming election, as well as the AADL Board and the Ann Arbor City Council supporting an agreement that would be drafted to contain the following elements:

• This project will not require any new taxes. 
• The City of Ann Arbor would sell Library Lane Parcel air rights to AADL for $1.
• AADL would build a new Downtown Ann Arbor District Library that would span the Library Lane Parcel and the library’s current site at 343 S. 5th Ave.
• The project would provide new outdoor public open space, improved programming, and managed by AADL.
• Above the new library, the project would provide a mixture of housing types, including artist spaces, condos, affordable units, and market rate units.
• The project would provide multiple event spaces for use by the city and the public. 
• The project would provide small business development space at below market expense.
• The AADL would issue a public Request for Proposals and partner with a development team to develop both parcels as a single project.
• The AADL would conduct a community engagement process to solicit public input on the project.
• The housing portion of the project would be new property on the City of Ann Arbor’s tax rolls.
• The city would continue to own the parking garage until the debt is paid off in 2042. At that time, the AADL would purchase the structure from the city using an agreed-upon formula.

“We’re so thrilled to have reached this point where there finally appears to be an answer for the future of the Downtown Library, and the Library Lane Parcel, that realizes the civic vision that the community has been developing for decades,” said Ann Arbor District Library Director Eli Neiburger.

“AADL is the organization best situated to develop this site into a beautiful, engaging and inspiring new asset for the people of Ann Arbor,” Neiburger added. “The library has demonstrated its capacity and commitment to professionally operate shared public spaces, sometimes in challenging environments, in a way that provides outstanding value to the entire community.” 

City staff recognize that some framework details could be modified once input is received from the AADL and City of Ann Arbor governing bodies. City Council is expected to consider an initial resolution at its March 3 meeting. The AADL will consider a resolution at its April 1 meeting. 

“This is an incredible opportunity for Ann Arbor,” said City of Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. “The prospect of a state-of-the art District Library downtown, thousands of square feet of public open space, hundreds of units of new, diverse housing, multiple event and gathering locations, all without raising taxes — is an absolute game changer.  I am so excited to work with city staff, my colleagues on City Council, the AADL and the public to make this vision a reality.”

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Media Contacts

City Media Contact: Lisa Wondrash, City Communications Director, lwondrash@a2gov.org

AADL Media Contact: Richard Retyi, AADL Communications and Marketing Manager, retyir@aadl.org