350 S. Fifth Avenue

The City of Ann Arbor recently re-acquired 350 S. Fifth Avenue, commonly referred to as the former Y-Lot. The site was home to the Ann Arbor YMCA from 1960-2005 until the current YMCA opened at the current West Washington site.  The former YMCA building was demolished in 2008, including 100 affordable units associated with the former building.  The site has served as a surface parking lot and has been at the forefront of several redevelopment considerations over the last decade. The City Council recently adopted Resolution R-18-173 outlining the priorities and criteria for redevelopment of the lot.  The site is currently zoned D1, allowing 400% Floor Area Ratio (a percentage of building area to ground area) and approximately 900% Floor Area Ration and approximately 17 story building heights with affordable housing bonuses.  Key adjacent uses include the Blake Transit Center to the north, Downtown Library to the east, significant parking structures to the west and northeast, the new William street bikeway to the south, and lower density uses south of William Street.          

The City is considering the following objectives for redeveloping the former Y-Lot:

• Maximize affordable housing units
• Maximize market rate housing
• Develop a mix of housing types and prices
• Expand the Blake Transit Center
• Activate the ground floor for public benefit
• Maintain some city ownership/control
• Recapture the cost of purchase
• Appropriately scale down to the lower density area south of William Street