Downtown area associations join annual challenge to encourage people to visit Ann Arbor in January
ANN ARBOR โ Downtown area associations have joined an annual campaign to encourage visitors to continue shopping and dining in the city throughout the month of January. Typically a slow time of year for business, the pandemic has only exacerbated the lack of customers at local establishments. The Main Street Area Association, State Street District, Kerrytown District Association, and South University Area Association have partnered with the getDowntown Program for โConquer the Cold - Pandemic Edition.โThe annual challenge by getDowntown -- in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor -- is designed to encourage and educate commuters to use alternative modes of transportation during the cold winter months. Many restaurants will be participating in the Comfort Food Challenge, and users can get prizes for dining outdoors, ordering curbside and shopping downtown. โThe Downtown Districts are excited to be partnering with GetDowntown for Conquer the Cold this year,โ Sandra Andrade, executive director of the Main Street Area Association said in a statement.
Two Ann Arbor council members move to dissolve Downtown Development Authority
ANN ARBOR โ On Friday evening, two resolutions to dissolve the Downtown Development Authority were added to Mondayโs city council meeting agenda. โIf you donโt have a resolution on the agenda, itโs very hard to have a discussion at council,โ said Griswold. Weโre in the midst of a pandemic and downtown businesses are on their knees and DDA is working hard to find strategies. Pollay said that during the winter months, downtown businesses will face their toughest test yet. โThe DDA is the only City entity that has offered and provided support through this pandemic.โMondayโs city council meeting will take place virtually at 7 p.m.
Ann Arbor City Council gives go-ahead for restaurants to extend patios into closed streets
ANN ARBOR, Mich. On Tuesday, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a resolution that would allow Ann Arbor restaurants and bars in the downtown area to extend their outdoor patios into closed streets. Andrade said the association gathered input from business owners and residents block-by-block when working with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority on the resolution. Four blocks in the Main Street area will be closed: Main Street between Williams Street and Liberty Street; Main Street from Liberty to Washington Street; Washington Street from Ashley Street to Main Street; and Washington Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue. The resolution was worked on by all four Ann Arbor downtown associations and the DDA. According to Andrade, some streets have been intentionally left open in the downtown area so that restaurants can continue to offer curbside services, which have been vital to many of the downtown restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses gear up to reopen in Downtown Rochester amid COVID-19 pandemic
ROCHESTER, Mich. More cities have started to put out their plans for the so-called new normal," which includes some businesses reopening amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Signs of activity are showing up in downtown Rochester -- so much so that the Downtown Development Authority have relocated into the heart of downtown. READ: Rochester hotel ready to reopen with new safety precautionsIts a space in the heart of downtown meant to help business owners get back up and running. Many have tried to stay open by offering curbside carryout. Watch the full report in the video above.
City of Ann Arbor celebrates opening of first two-way protected bike lane
The William Street Bikeway is the first in a network of planned two-way protected bike lanes across the city. Mayor Christopher Taylor speaks before the ribbon cutting ceremony for the city's first two-way protected bike lane on Oct. 27, 2019. Credit: Meredith BrucknerA police officer shows cyclists a map of the two-way protected bike lane on William Street. The two-way protected bike lane was introduced as a way to help the city achieve Vision Zero -- an international movement to prevent injuries and fatalities on the road. Boober Tours testing out the two-way protected bike lane on William Street.