Changes to Ann Arbor That You Liked or Disliked the Most

Things I miss from long ago and even not so long ago:

A lot of restaurants - Cracked Crab, Whiffletree, Del Rio, Pretzel Bell, Maudes, Grazi (though it went downhill a lot in its later years) Leopold Blooms/Bella Ciao/Grange (like all three a lot), Eve, Logan 

Leopold Bros.

The Post Office branch in Nickels Arcade.

Being able too smoke a cigar on campus or in a bar. 

I am a little annoyed that Ashley's Pub opened right after I graduated and left town.

; )

Still, a lot of the changes are things that happened everywhere, so I don't really have a problem. Kinda fun to be able to get good coffee in the UGLi, or Bubble Tea and Mochi out on South U. The new practice field for the Marching Band is going to be weird, to say the least. I just can't imagine a high-rise on Elbel Field.

Not having a lumber yard downtown anymore is a pretty epic kick in the balls

Closing Main st. downtown to only peds is a good move IMO. Would like to see that made permanent. If you know what's good for you, you don't drive or park on that street anyway.

As a cyclist, I like the bike lanes. In theory. I think grafting them onto the busiest automobile routes is counterproductive because I much prefer using side streets with less traffic, so I don’t really use the lanes. And I also drive so losing the one-way quick routes through town is very annoying, with no upside to show for it. There was no good reason AFAIK to take a lane away from Division and First each when drivers have a greater incentive to use the one way routes while cyclists do not. Cyclists can move just as quickly thru side streets as the main routes, and who wants to breathe in all that exhaust anyway?

I also don’t like the change where the Library lot was voted to stay a parking lot in perpetuity. Talk about getting hoodwinked. Ann Arbor townsfolk: “Chopping down the woods on Earhart to build McMansions? That’s great! Putting a building on top of a parking lot? How dare you!”

Another loss has been the gentrification of Waterhill. Used to be such a cool, energetic neighborhood, now it’s got an uppity and dull suburb vibe. Too many “get off my lawn” types moving in killed one of the best events in town. When they finally turn the Elks lodge into a boutique pet salon, I will weep.

Overall, the growth has been a mixed bag. It definitely has followed the contemporary colonialist model of commodification of locales and communities. Sad to see so many working people, the soul of the town, get priced out of the local real estate market and driven to the fringe. Would also like to see more priority given to trees than parking lots, but that’s just my e-pinion. But in the upside there are many great new businesses cropping up. The challenge will be, as the trend continues, can Ann Arbor retain its vibrant spirit or turn into just another Oakland-style insular, elitist consumer burg.

MgoConfession.   I lived in U Towers one year and when I moved out I just loaded up my furniture and mattress that I didn't want anymore into the elevator and pressed lobby.  When those elevator doors closed I was then done moving all my bulky heavy shit.

There have been a lot of lame commercial changes downtown, but the negative changes Ann Arbor has endured pale in comparison to whatever happened in Madison and Columbus.  Two once somewhat comparable towns that jumped the shark. 

Quick story I found amusing.

Living in SF, I often referred to A2 having a kinship of sorts with Berkeley.

Finally I brought my ex-gf to A2. After touring the city and campus, she said - "This is like Palo Alto, not Berkeley". 

She was 100% correct. 

That pretty much sums up how A2 has changed in my mind.

I attended in the mid-90s: I miss Shamen Drum, where I used to work, and Del Rio.  

I heard Blimpy Burger near South Quad, moved elsewhere. Don't know if true or not haven't been back in 15 years.

I went to the Michigan Business School in the early '80s (now the Ross Business School).  You know you are old when not only are the buildings you had classes in gone . . . but the buildings that replaced them are gone too.

This isn't a judgement on buildings replacing buildings which replace buildings.  The new Ross school is much nicer than what preceded it, and that in turn was nicer than what preceded it.

It's just, holy shit, do I feel old.  I'm off to go yell at a cloud.

For all the glee clubbers out there:

I want to go back to Michigan, to dear Ann Arbor town

Back to Joe's and the orient and back to some of the money I spent

I want to go back to Michigan, to dear Ann Arbor town

I want to go back, I gotta go back to Michigan

Oooh mother and father pay all the bills and we have all the fun

In the friendly rivalry of college life HOORAY!

And we have to figure a helluva lot to tell what we have done

With the coin we blew at dear old Michigan

I blew a lot of coin at VC. My sister lived in the small apartment building right next to VC on South U. 

I miss Maude's. :(

San Fu.

was my go-to Chinese food place.  lost when that whatever giant monstrous apartment complex was built - the Yard, or the something, or whatever they call it.  I heard the apartments suck too.

When Joes Star Lounge closed circa 1985 I should have cried but he assured everyone he would find a new place right away.  Great upcoming bands were his specialty... so many great memories.  

Stores that sell LSD is all I can think of.  I take that back.  I would like it be more of a pedestrian and bike environment with anti gun laws with teeth on campus and in town.  

1. I toured the campus two summers ago and was amazed how different everything looked (I graduated in 1994).  Construction happening everywhere -- new buildings, restaurants, etc.  I walked through the bottom floor of West Quad and saw all sorts of brand new meeting rooms, music rooms, media rooms, etc.  I lived in West Quad in 1991-92 and I remember a lot of ancient woodwork.  There was very little modernization of the structure, which is honestly what I liked about living there.  It smelled of a 50+ year old building with old books.  It was that same smell that permeated a lot of buildings on campus such as the UGLI and Rackham Library.  Call me crazy but I liked it.

2. All that said, I wouldn't change anything.  Change is a part of life.  Students now are making their own memories in their reality.

3. Is that Chicago Dog place still around?  I think it was on East University?  I hit that place at least once a week.  Loved their Chicago Dog with the spicy pepper, tomato, relish, etc.  The bun was always fresh.  Their waffle fries were the bomb.

This will definitely go 1000+ posts.

Not having gone to UM in Ann Arbor, I don't know the city that well (except the fact that I usually get lost when I try to drive downtown.) But there used to be a little dive off South U. that sold Chicago-style hot dogs. I'd always get one when I went to Art Fair - it was a great way to start the day. I discovered it was gone a few years ago, and that very much disappointed me. So I would bring that place back.

Of course, I'd also bring back my ability to eat those things without getting acid reflux, too.

I do miss the bowling alley in the basement of the Union/West Quad.

I don't miss the check-cashing line in the Union, particularly on Friday afternoons.  ATMs were a life-changer.

I do miss the billiard room in the Union.   Why they needed to create more meeting space on a campus full of classrooms (all empty in the evening) is beyond me.

I don't miss living in Bursley in 1971-72 when there was NOTHING up there - no recreational building at that time.  The only other people up there were the music students and married students.  Grabbing the bus for morning classes was a PIA.  Taking the bus home late at night from the bars was even worse. The only place to go for food and a beer was a Lum's on the other side of the almost impassible (for foot traffic) Plymouth Road.

Just a small correction Tower Plaza (corner of William and Maynard) was also around in the 80s.

1. I grew up in A2 (in the '70s), went to UM in the '80s, and still live here. I don't have stats to back this conclusion up, but I think the greatest change in my lifetime the overall affluence of the community. My general sense is that while Ann Arbor always has been a reasonably prosperous town it has become a wealthier community at least based on housing prices and the new business/restaurants opening. Part of that, I think, has to do with some successful, local entrepreneurs (DUO was started in A2) and also the fact that more or more folks who may work in Detroit or its suburbs want to live in Ann Arbor. I suppose that this is good for local businesses who need customers and bad for affordability and economic diversity.

2. If I were king for a day there would be a high speed train to Chicago and Detroit.

Graduated in 1981, have been back occasionally.

Things I miss most:

1.  Hung Wan Chinese Restaurant.  To this day one of the best Chinese restaurants I've ever experienced.  The chef was from Shanghai.

2.  Drake's, especially being able to buy candy on the way down to Yost for a hockey game.

3.  Old Blimpy's

Positives:

1.  New Blimpy's

2.  Angelo's is still there

3.  Michigan football