The University Record, June 11, 1996
Proposed housing facility moves one step closer to reality
The approval by the Board of Regents of selling up to 18.6 acres of land on the edge of North Campus is a major step toward the development of a special housing facility whose targeted population are faculty and staff, 55 years of age or older, active or retired, and their spouses. The planned apartment condominium was proposed by the University Condominium Association, a faculty group.
Farris W. Womack, executive vice president and chief financial officer, recommended the sale to the Regents.
The hilly and wooded site is north of Huron High School on Huron Parkway. It is situated adjacent to the University and its facilities, near Gallup Park, and within the city of Ann Arbor. The land will need to be annexed to the city and will be dependent upon the city for services. If annexation is completed, this will be an instance of the movement of public land to the city tax rolls. The Association and the facility to be developed are separate from the University.
More than 90 apartments will be available in four connected buildings. Apartments will vary in size having from one bedroom and a study to three bedrooms and will be of quality construction. In addition to their apartments, owners will share an interest in extensive common spaces including a dining room, an auditorium, and a number of other amenities. The development is not a health care facility, but attention has been given to a design which promotes the maintenance of home activities for mature people. The concept of such a senior community providing easily accessible scholarly and cultural activities has been proposed for some time. The model has been successfully tested at the University of Minnesota .
The University Condominium Association is a non-profit corporation whose only purpose is the development of such a condominium. Ann Arbor firms that have been engaged for the project include O’Neal Construction Inc., Hobbs & Black Associates Inc., Johnson, Johnson & Roy Inc. and Midwestern Consulting Inc. The overall coordination is through O’Neal Construction.
