Tuesday, July 10, 2012

What to do with the Library Lot?

The above was posted by a group advocating for the space on top of the underground Library Lot structure to be developed into a central park for the city. The video does make a point, for a city with tons of parkland, green spaces are conspicuously lacking from downtown. The City only has one park, Liberty Plaza, in the DDA Assessment Area (well three really if you count the much loved Sculpture Plaza and Farmer's Market). Some would also argue that the University of Michigan's Diag serves some of the functions of a central park.

I could see the benefits of a park on the Library Lot. Especially if it became a Dolores Park-esque gathering place where all sorts of hipsters could gather and drink beer in public together. Then again, I can also see how the city might like to have something more lucrative on top of the lot. Gentle readers, what are your thoughts? Would you like to see a park on top of the Library Lot? How about more retail space, more parking, an obelisk, an office?

12 comments:

  1. The thing is, the Diag is not really a centrally located park, especially since it's totally surrounded by U-M academic buildings. It's been deep within the school so you'd have to be there on U-M business away to appreciate it. The library lot as a park would be more centrally located.

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  2. I love the idea of a park there, but I feel like it would probably be taken over by the homeless people that already live in Liberty Plaza and The Library.

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  3. Agree with Topher, especially right next to the bus station.

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  4. Along with the bus station, the two big surface lots between 4th and 5th right by the library make ti an unlikely place for a big park. Those lots block the library lot off from the Main St. area, while its too far from the State St. area. I think it's just too separated from the two hubs of activity to really make it as a park.

    If you redeveloped those lots with mixed-use residential/office/retail space then I think you could really support a park on the library lot. But as it is, I think you'd just end up with an expanded version of liberty plaza, which doesn't get a lot of use aside from the homeless.

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  5. If not the Library Lot, then where will I drink in public?

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  6. Something to keep in mind -- in all actuality this would be a pretty small park they're talking about. Only around 15 parking spaces take up the space they are jockeying for. How exactly would something of that size help downtown again?

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  7. I am working with the group who is advocating for a park there. I do share the concerns about the homeless invading it, and that is definitely an issue for many people! I am hoping we can come up with solutions for that-any ideas?!

    Please come to the party on Saturday and share your ideas!!!

    PS: I never think of Liberty Park as a park...sorry, but I picture a park as having, well, lawn.

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  8. how about a shelter for all of those pesky, invasive homeless people so the sight of them won't sully our precious wittle eyeballs?

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  9. The Library Lot is about half way between State and Main streets. It is not far from either location. When you walk from one end of Briarwood Mall to the other you walk farther than State to Main on Liberty.

    Homeless people at Liberty Plaza are just poor people you can see. If one is too refined to feel comfortable in the company of the poor, one may want to do something to remedy the situation...

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  10. The urban open space in Salt Lake City could potentially be a good model for some space in downtown Ann Arbor. Admittedly, downtown SLC is more developed in terms of high-rise buildings, but they are absolutely wonderful spaces... Specifically Pioneer Park and Gallivan Center Plaza -- both spaces have fantastic programming year-round, and are major destinations for locals and tourists alike. And yes, SLC has its fair share of challenges with homeless people in the parks, but somehow everyone seems to get along pretty well.

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  11. You know, I often eat and read (occasionally I am there with my young son) in Liberty Plaza, and I also don't understand this "the homeless have taken over the park" contention. There are always seats, so the (presumed) homeless folks haven't literally taken it over. And while I have been asked for money a couple of times, I've never been harassed, made to feel unwelcome, or given the impression that homeless folks feel that it is their park. Cities are diverse and Ann Arbor is a small city, so parks will include all types of folks. I personally think this is a good thing. I strongly support the creation of a park over the library lot.

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