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Center of the City

Share ideas for the development of a Center of the City Commons.

This topic is closed

536 registered responses


What does your ideal commons look like?

Answered
472
Skipped
64

What experiences support your ideal commons?

Answered
425
Skipped
111

(1=A good idea, 4=Not in favor)

Sit and talk with friends
Response Percent Response Count
1 64.8% 343
2 11.3% 60
3 5.3% 28
4 16.3% 86
Buy from a food vendor
Response Percent Response Count
1 41.0% 217
2 20.4% 108
3 16.8% 89
4 19.3% 102
Meditate in a garden or grassy area
Response Percent Response Count
1 41.0% 217
2 13.6% 72
3 15.1% 80
4 28.0% 148
Get help
Response Percent Response Count
1 14.7% 78
2 18.9% 100
3 20.4% 108
4 40.8% 216
Work at an office
Response Percent Response Count
1 21.4% 113
2 9.8% 52
3 14.2% 75
4 49.0% 259
Listen to live music
Response Percent Response Count
1 42.0% 222
2 22.9% 121
3 15.1% 80
4 18.0% 95
Watch children at play
Response Percent Response Count
1 45.4% 240
2 19.1% 101
3 11.2% 59
4 21.6% 114
Sit quietly and read a book
Response Percent Response Count
1 51.6% 273
2 17.2% 91
3 8.9% 47
4 19.5% 103
Use a public rest room
Response Percent Response Count
1 43.1% 228
2 19.7% 104
3 13.2% 70
4 21.2% 112
Visit the downtown library
Response Percent Response Count
1 57.8% 306
2 18.5% 98
3 7.2% 38
4 14.2% 75
Attend a private/public celebration
Response Percent Response Count
1 37.1% 196
2 23.4% 124
3 16.1% 85
4 20.4% 108
Skate on an ice rink
Response Percent Response Count
1 26.1% 138
2 22.5% 119
3 16.1% 85
4 32.5% 172
Experience a water fountain
Response Percent Response Count
1 38.2% 202
2 21.7% 115
3 14.6% 77
4 22.1% 117
Have a drink at an indoor/outdoor cafe
Response Percent Response Count
1 39.5% 209
2 25.3% 134
3 13.0% 69
4 20.2% 107
Learn about the city’s history
Response Percent Response Count
1 21.9% 116
2 25.1% 133
3 25.7% 136
4 24.2% 128
Attend a kid’s program
Response Percent Response Count
1 28.4% 150
2 26.5% 140
3 19.5% 103
4 22.1% 117
Catch the time at a clock tower
Response Percent Response Count
1 18.5% 98
2 20.2% 107
3 17.8% 94
4 39.9% 211
Come home to your apartment
Response Percent Response Count
1 33.5% 177
2 9.5% 50
3 13.2% 70
4 39.9% 211
Appreciate an artistic sculpture
Response Percent Response Count
1 31.6% 167
2 26.5% 140
3 18.5% 98
4 20.0% 106
Use a computer in an internet “hot spot”
Response Percent Response Count
1 28.5% 151
2 22.7% 120
3 17.8% 94
4 28.0% 148
Experience a memorial
Response Percent Response Count
1 12.9% 68
2 21.9% 116
3 26.1% 138
4 35.2% 186
Attend a conference
Response Percent Response Count
1 20.8% 110
2 16.8% 89
3 18.3% 97
4 40.6% 215
Participate in a hands-on crafts activity
Response Percent Response Count
1 16.1% 85
2 24.8% 131
3 27.2% 144
4 28.5% 151
Buy incidentals from a store
Response Percent Response Count
1 18.5% 98
2 14.9% 79
3 20.4% 108
4 42.7% 226

Do you have any comments on the listed activities?

Answered
349
Skipped
187

What type of activity would you especially imagine for yourself?

Answered
411
Skipped
125

Name a potential audience/user group of the Commons. (For example, senior citizens, children, etc.).

Answered
428
Skipped
108

What does this user hear in the Commons?

Answered
382
Skipped
154

What does this user see in the Commons?

Answered
378
Skipped
158

What does this user do in the Commons?

Answered
367
Skipped
169

What does this user feel in the Commons?

Answered
357
Skipped
179

Besides the user group you named above, what additional audiences do you think might use the Commons?

Answered
301
Skipped
235

Do you have other ideas that would help create an inspirational Community Commons leaving a lasting legacy?

Answered
263
Skipped
273

Are there any additional thoughts about the Commons you would like to share with the Task Force?

Answered
253
Skipped
283

What would make it easier for you to engage with the City of Ann Arbor?

Answered
203
Skipped
333
Name not shown inside ward 5
December 6, 2019, 9:50 AM
  • What does your ideal commons look like?

    Indoor and outdoor meeting and interaction spaces open 24 hours. Lots of middle-income housing. Cafes (inside and outside). Integration with the (new) library. Integration with BTC and old Y lots. Safe pedestrian crossings on Fifth Ave. One or more beautiful mid-rise to tall buildings.

  • What experiences support your ideal commons?

    I don't understand the question.

  • (1=A good idea, 4=Not in favor)
    • Sit and talk with friends - 1
    • Buy from a food vendor - 1
    • Meditate in a garden or grassy area - 2
    • Get help - 2
    • Work at an office - 3
    • Listen to live music - 3
    • Watch children at play - 2
    • Sit quietly and read a book - 1
    • Use a public rest room - 1
    • Visit the downtown library - 1
    • Attend a private/public celebration - 2
    • Skate on an ice rink - 4
    • Experience a water fountain - 1
    • Have a drink at an indoor/outdoor cafe - 1
    • Learn about the city’s history - 2
    • Attend a kid’s program - 3
    • Catch the time at a clock tower - 4
    • Come home to your apartment - 1
    • Appreciate an artistic sculpture - 1
    • Use a computer in an internet “hot spot” - 1
    • Experience a memorial - 3
    • Attend a conference - 1
    • Participate in a hands-on crafts activity - 3
    • Buy incidentals from a store - 2
  • Do you have any comments on the listed activities?

    Water fountain or splash pad needed to mask traffic noise. Flowers and plants needed to soften the view and mask bus fumes. Only in favor of live music that's not loud, and no "canned" music.

  • What type of activity would you especially imagine for yourself?

    Living there

  • Name a potential audience/user group of the Commons. (For example, senior citizens, children, etc.).

    Women friends

  • What does this user hear in the Commons?

    Talking, laughter, water splashing

  • What does this user see in the Commons?

    Seating, a water fountain and sculpture, flowers. sun and shade, inviting building entries, activity in all directions

  • What does this user do in the Commons?

    Sit, talk, sip coffee/lemonade and have a light bite, read, people watch

  • What does this user feel in the Commons?

    Safe, engaged, in the center of things

  • Besides the user group you named above, what additional audiences do you think might use the Commons?

    Seniors, families, teens, disabled people

  • Do you have other ideas that would help create an inspirational Community Commons leaving a lasting legacy?

    Build lots of housing and integrate a lot of it with a new library.

  • Are there any additional thoughts about the Commons you would like to share with the Task Force?

    It is essential, to create enough synergy for success, to plan the Library Lot, the Library, the Old Y and the BTC together.

  • What would make it easier for you to engage with the City of Ann Arbor?
    No response.
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DEFINITION

The Center of the City Task Force is charged with creating a vision for the Commons and we would like your help with shaping our definition of a Commons. Currently, we understand Commons as a traditional form of shared space based on mutual benefit, mutual responsibility and mutual respect, conveying a culture of sustainability now and for generations to come.

ACTIVITIES

The Task Force is interested in learning what type of activities the community most desires on the block enclosed by Fifth, Division, Liberty, and William, which includes the surface of underground parking structure and Liberty Plaza. Listed below are possible indoor/outdoor activities. Please share what you think would be good idea, or not, for the community use of this space for the general public, not just for yourself.

1
2
3
4
Sit and talk with friends
Buy from a food vendor
Meditate in a garden or grassy area
Get help
Work at an office
Listen to live music
Watch children at play
Sit quietly and read a book
Use a public rest room
Visit the downtown library
Attend a private/public celebration
Skate on an ice rink
Experience a water fountain
Have a drink at an indoor/outdoor cafe
Learn about the city’s history
Attend a kid’s program
Catch the time at a clock tower
Come home to your apartment
Appreciate an artistic sculpture
Use a computer in an internet “hot spot”
Experience a memorial
Attend a conference
Participate in a hands-on crafts activity
Buy incidentals from a store

AUDIENCE

The Center of the City Task Force is interested in hearing from you about potential audiences for the space and how you imagine their ideal experience. Your answers to these questions will help us understand how to create a Commons that will serve the entire community.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

DEMOGRAPHICS

Thank you for engaging with the City of Ann Arbor. The city is trying to gain a better understanding of who we are reaching in order to continuously improve public engagement efforts and support inclusivity. To help us gain this understanding, please complete this brief, anonymous survey. This survey is voluntary; you are not required to fill it out.

Check out our guidelines for civility
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