Houses to move for parking lot

Chapters may be lost from Ann Arbor's history books by the end of May when three historically valuable houses are removed to make way for a new parking lot.

The University currently owns the houses that are located at 916 Maiden Lane and 919 and 925 Wall Street. The need for additional parking stems from renovations the University is scheduled to perform during the summers of '98 and '99 to provide safe parking facilities and prevent water damage to the Cancer and Geriatric Centers and the west end of University Hospital.

During the period of construction, the University will need to compensate by providing additional parking lots near the Medical Center.

One of the new parking lots will be constructed in the space currently occupied by the three houses.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily This old house, at 919 Wall Street, will be moved to a new location in order to accommodate the increased need for parking near the University Medical Center.

But Tom Stulberg, who is a member of the Individual Historical Properties Historical District Study Committee, said these particular houses have historical value and are worth saving.

Stulberg's committee is attempting to preserve at least one of the three houses, even though they are not officially recognized as historically valuable. Stulberg said the houses have "a lot of character left, though they are run down."

Stulberg added that the houses, though dilapidated, are links to Ann Arbor's past. According to Stulberg, the house that sits on 925 Wall Street was acquired by George Jewett, the father of the first African-American football player at the University.

Stulberg said fortunately there is an opportunity for the University to build on the property and still allow the houses to be saved.

Stulberg said that by putting long I-beams under the main structure of the house, a crew can use large jacks to lift the house and drive it to a new location. He added that relocating the houses to different places from where they stand may detract from their impact on the history of the neighborhood, but the buildings that are moved will not be demolished.

"My primary goal is to try (and) save the structures," Stulberg said.

Fred Mayer, Assistant Director of Capital Planning and University Planner, said that the parking lot will only exist as long as necessary.

Mayer said the University will eventually construct buildings for medical research and treatment on the property gained from moving the houses.

Removing the houses may benefit students at the cost of losing pieces of Ann Arbor's history.

"I do really think that if something has historical value, it should be left alone unless there is a good reason," said Meredith Ackerman, an LSA sophomore.

Ackerman said she didn't fully agree with the University's plans to use the land for medical facilities.

LSA senior Todd Pinsky said the University should make students the priority.

"Personally, I feel that the school needs to cater to the personal needs of the students," Pinsky said. "One of the students' needs is parking."

Stulberg said house owners sold the properties knowing that the University would build on that land.

"It's been pretty common knowledge that the University wants to develop this whole block," Stulberg said.

Stulberg bid on 916 Maiden Lane during an open house last Thursday. His hope is that other interested parties will bid on the remaining two houses in order to "find some new homes for the houses," Stulberg said.

"You lose that history when you lose the building," Stulberg said.

05-11-98