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New Bridge Mural To Be Painted On Huron Street This June

New Bridge Mural To Be Painted On Huron Street This June

Morning, Ann Arbor! And Happy Birthday Week, Ann Arbor! You may be turning 200 this Saturday, but you don’t look a day over 150!

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ANN ARBORITES SHOULD KNOW

TreeTown Murals

🎨 New Downtown Mural: Earlier this month, City Council unanimously approved a proposal from Treetown Murals to paint either side of the railroad bridge over Huron Street. Both sides of the bridge and the walls below will be painted in a flower garden design with the word “welcome” on the west side. Work on the bridge mural is expected to begin by June 10. Treetown Murals is a local husband and wife team who also painted the 10-story tall “Challenge Everything. Create Anything.” mural on the corner of 4th and Huron (and here’s a very cool behind-the-scenes video of that mural being made).

🍎 AAPS Budget Cuts: Last week, the Ann Arbor school board presented their plan to address the district’s $20+ million budget deficit. Some of what was proposed:

Lay off up to 6% of the district’s staff (94 teachers and 47 other staff)
Offer voluntary buyouts for teachers with 10+ years of district experience
Explore selling an administrative building
Eliminate the World Language program in Elementary schools
Close all middle school pools

Here’s a link to the Board of Education’s budget plan slide deck.

🍻 Liquor Licenses Approved: Last week, U of M’s Board of Regents voted to officially implement a Class C liquor license at the Big House - starting with the August 31st home opener against Fresno State. While U of M began selling alcohol at Crisler Center and Yost in February, the Board of Regents postponed approving Michigan Stadium’s liquor license at the time.

🍗 Eat Mor Chikin: A year after a developer first proposed building a Chick-Fil-A at the old Denny’s on Washtenaw (3310 Washtenaw Avenue), the city’s planning commission is meeting this week to review a new, revised plan. Based on the submitted documents, the new site plans show developers would remove the old Denny’s building and build a new restaurant altogether (notably, without a drive-through). Scroll to page 22 of this document to see renderings of the proposed building.

TODAY’S SPONSOR: BLØM MEAD + CIDER

Bløm Mead + Cider - 100 S 4th Ave Ste 110

🐝 From Farm To Fourth Ave: While Bløm Mead + Cider is located in the heart of Ann Arbor (100 S. 4th Ave Ste 110), each drink is a nod to the state’s biodiversity. Using only Michigan ingredients, Bløm’s mead and cider is a celebration of Michigan’s agriculture, from the state’s honeybees to the seasonal fruit and everything in between. Click here for a behind-the-scenes video of how Bløm’s drinks move from Michigan farms to Ann Arbor’s Fourth Ave.

MICHIGANDERS SHOULD KNOW

Detroit City FC

⚽️ New Soccer Stadium: Last week, Detroit City Football Club announced they had purchased the former Southwest Detroit Hospital and plan to build a new stadium on the site. The USL club (one level below MLS) has been playing at the Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck since 2016. Detroit City aims to have the new stadium open by the 2027 season.

📈 Detroit’s Population Trend: According to new Census Bureau data, Detroit's population has grown for the first time since 1957. The city’s population rose to 633,218 in 2023, up from 631,366 in 2022. Mayor Mike Duggan (who has previously challenged the Census Bureau's declining reports) welcomed the news and credited local efforts in housing and neighborhood revitalization for the city’s growth.

👩‍💻 Computer Science Class: Under new legislation introduced by State Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids), every high school in Michigan would be required to offer a computer science class. The course would teach students the basics of coding, programming algorithmic processes, cybersecurity, and digital information. The proposed bill would not make the course a graduation requirement, but rather an option for any interested students. Despite the state’s 17,000+ computer science jobs, only 55% of high schools in Michigan offer a computer science course.