Overview

Strathmore Development

Broadway Village

The city of Ann Arbor has long struggled with how to make use of a 6-acre contaminated urban infill site in the city's Lower Town District, an economically depressed area with an enviable location near downtown and within walking distance of the University of Michigan Medical Center. JJR's plan creates a high-density, mixed-use urban village that both addresses the contamination issues and helps redefine and reenergize the Lower Town District.


Location

Ann Arbor, Michigan


Client

Strathmore Development


Size

6.4 acres


Practice Area


Specialized Service

Approach

The scale of JJR's master plan alone helps to redefine Lower Town. Broadway Village creates the largest mixed-use development in the city, with seven buildings that offer a mix of residential, retail and medical spaces with surrounding airy common spaces and greenways, including a town square, central park and lighted walkway along an urban creek. Michigan Brownfield Tax Increment Financing is an important part of the financing package. The contaminated soils, caused by a former drycleaning operation, were contained and covered by buildings and the central open spaces.  The central park also preserves a floodplain; surrounding buildings are located outside and above it.  

 

Building community consensus was key in getting this project off the ground. It had been the subject of heated discussion for years. JJR's strong local ties, reputation and collaborative skills helped moved Broadway Village forward into the development phase. 

Sustainability

Broadway Village creates a high-density, walkable community and at last addresses a contaminated site. The plan also restores Traver Creek by removing concrete, other debris and invasive species and replacing them with native plantings. The creek's health will improve with better stormwater management. JJR's plan reduces runoff with the installation of underground infiltration tanks that help mimic natural rain flow processes.