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| Crews put the finishing touches on the Forest Avenue Parking Structure. (Photo by Bill Wood, U-M Photo Services) |
With U-M, the event is being hosted by the South University Area Merchants’ Association and WEMU, along with the city of Ann Arbor and the Downtown Development Authority.
The parade, which is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Church Street and South University Avenue, will travel around the Diag block and end at the new structure.
The seven-level building is scheduled to open to the public in July and will provide 867 parking spaces, of which 277 are designated for University use. Many of the city’s 590 spaces will be for hourly visitors. The new structure, expected to cost $15.6 million, has a 70-year life expectancy. It replaced a smaller, city-owned building that was demolished in early 2000. The University’s share is $5.9 million.
“We’re eagerly awaiting the opening of this new project,” said Henry Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations. “By combining the resources of the city and the University, we’ve been able to help University faculty and staff as well as the entire community, including merchants and residents. Months of work and vision by many people will help meet our ongoing parking challenge for years to come.”
Daily parkers will pay $1 per hour. Parking for city and University permit holders will be controlled using Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology. The U-M spaces will be designated for blue and gold permit parking and will require an AVI access device to open the gates.
Devices will be available soon from the Parking Services office. For more information, call (734) 764-8291, or visit the Web at www.parking.umich.edu.