[DetroitMan]

Developer drops plan for controversial high-rise near downtown Ann Arbor

St. Louis-based student housing developer Subtext is dropping its plans for a high-rise apartment development near downtown Ann Arbor.

The project is not happening now, a representative for the development team confirmed, declining further comment.

Subtext’s proposal to rezone 22 properties on a neighborhood block just south of downtown for high-density development sparked controversy and pushback from neighbors and others when it was introduced in 2023. The development would have replaced most of the block of homes and apartments bound by Packard Street, Fifth Avenue, Fourth Avenue and Madison Street. Fifth Avenue resident Claudius Vincenz, whose home is across from where the development was proposed, is among those rejoicing that it’s not happening now.

“If the past is any indicator, these assaults on the neighborhood come every 10 years, so we should have peace for 10 years,” he said, adding he hopes the next development proposed in the neighborhood is more modest in size — something between what stands today and what Subtext proposed.

Not everyone is happy about the developer dropping its plans, though.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Council Member Jen Eyer, D-4th Ward, who hopes a new housing development of some kind still could happen on the block.

“I know there were feelings about the height and scale of it, but it was going to bring a lot of housing that we desperately need,” she said. “I do want to figure out what went wrong here.”

When the project went before the city’s Design Review Board in December, board members agreed with critics a high-rise standing 13 stories at its tallest point would have been too big and out of scale with the neighborhood.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor...ann-arbor.html