With talk about the City of Ann Arbor purchasing land on the outskirts of the city to prevent suburban sprawl to create a greenbelt around the city, attention is now being focused on what new housing options can exist in the city. By limiting the physical outward expansion of he city, Ann Arbor should look at new ways to expand by growing up or the greenbelt will be for naught. It is with this in mind that Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje announced a new task force to investigate ways to attract people to the downtown area.

One idea that has been proposed to decrease urban sprawl is the construction of high rises in the downtown area. Historically Ann Arbor has been apprehensive of the construction of tall buildings, so as not to ruin the overall atmosphere of the area. As reported in The Ann Arbor News, Hieftje would not want to build high rises on Main and State streets. in fear of ruining the European feel of the surrounding areas.

Building high rises in the downtown area, if properly executed, would be a good idea for the future of the city. It will benefit Ann Arbor, as it will provide places to live to those who would otherwise be leaving the city for surrounding communities. It will draw more residents to the downtown area helping out businesses that, in the summer, lose patrons due to the absence of students. It will also add some vibrancy to the entire area. Residents will will find themselves in close range to all the attractions downtown Ann Arbor has to offer. Residents will be able to walk from their homes to shops and restaurants, potentially lessening the traffic in the area or allowing for more people who need to drive downtown the ability to do so.

Sensibly designed high-rise buildings would not necessarily take away from the general feel of the town. The benefits of having tall buildings would outweigh the costs, making the greenbelt feasible and curbing suburban sprawl in the process. In addition, there are already some relatively tall buildings in downtown and campus areas, such as University Towers and the First National Bank building, that have not ruined the feel of the area. If the buildings are designed in a way that fits in with the architecture of the surrounding area, preserving adequate sidewalks for pedestrians and incorporating shops and restaurants on the ground floor then there should be no aesthetic problem with high-rises.

Regardless of the size and design of the high rises the city should make efforts to keep prices low on the new residences. If the prices are too high than the goal of attracting residents will not be accomplished, as potential buyers will leave Ann Arbor all together to find less expensive housing. Low income housing - not multi-million dollar condominium complexes - is a key feature of a successful downtown development. If the city of Ann Arbor wishes to preserve a greenbelt around the city, which it should, inexpensive high rises are a very viable option when considering how to keep and attract people to live in Ann Arbor.