I was up on the roof of my apartment building today getting some shots when I decided to walk around town for some more. This thread will feature pictures of Ann Arbor's 4th Ward as well as the State & Liberty Commercial Districts that adjoin the University of Michigan. I'll post U of M and downtown Ann Arbor pictures in a separate thread.
These photos are cold and somewhat depressing so I've mixed in some from late September to heat it back up
Looking South Toward the University over Cornwell Place neighborhood
Looking Northwest over the Huron River Valley. In the center of the photo you can see a train pulling into town from Chicago. It's been really convenient having the Amtrak Station a couple blocks form my house as well as cheap daily trips to Chicago.
The east end of the 4th ward is flanked by ugly parking structures and research buildings. Permanent residents have feared the specter of highrise development invading their neighborhood from almost every direction. Proposed buildings from 5 to 45 stories have all been shot down one by one. Based on the architecture of some of these buildings that rose in the 60's, you'll understand why.
Uh oh.
I'd be less concerned about height of buildings and more about these paint schemes. I thought this was a "historic district."
University of Michigan's North Quad student housing rising.
It's an R AM Stern building, so I trust it will be done right.
Getting too cold? Let's move back to September
Nickel's Arcade. Ann Arbor's earliest "shopping mall."
Switch back to the holidays
I'm happy to say this remains a successful retail arcade to this day.
Looking toward campus. More of this in a thread to come.
Ann Arbor's tallest, and not exactly the most attractive. This city has a really odd skyline, and most of the taller buildings remain close to campus as opposed to downtown.
Looking back down State Street.
Burton Memorial Bell Tower and Hill Auditorium. The acoustics are so good that apparently you can hear someone speak without a microphone on stage all the way up on the third level due to the auditorium's spherical shape. During my undergraduate years, a group of us went backstage of a Ludacris concert via underground tunnels from a neighboring building.
The edge of campus looking toward town.
Now from above
Borders Store #1, the first Borders Book Store started here...actually in a neighboring building. This particular location was formerly a department store. After Borders outgrew their first location they moved down the block, and a well known American retail chain was born.
Interesting story about this alley. Murals used to cover the walls, but over time they became covered with graffiti. It was tolerated both by authorities and even the artist, so the paint has changed over time. However, a couple months ago someone paint rolled all the walls white (not the owners). The police were called and are seeking out who covered up all the graffiti with white paint. If found, they could face vandalism charges. However, the problem has recently begun to go away, and graffiti has returned covering up the roller vandal's white rectangle.
That is bubble gum on that wall.
Our newest private student housing project. Another 18 story one is to rise on the low brown building on the right. If you are wondering what rents are in this area, a resident in this new building will pay about $1000/month I believe. Apartments around my neighborhood range from $750-$1200/month for a one bedroom. So it's a relatively attractive housing option being so close to the business areas and campus. South of campus in the "student ghetto" rents are much lower.
Later this week....Downtown
