City to vote on train platform

Ypsi DDA to vote on ending interim director's contract
By Christine Laughren
Feb. 5, 2010 · 3:12 p.m.

Pictured, Interim DDA Director Jennifer Coe. The DDA's executive director search committee cited Coe’s $75 per-hour salary, which works out to approximately $1,200 a week, as reason for the termination of the contract.

Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority’s Ad Hoc Executive Director Search Committee will recommend the DDA hold off on re-posting for the director position...read more

Ypsilanti hires new city planner
By Christine Laughren
Feb. 5, 2010 · 1:42 p.m.

Teresa Gillotti, Ypsilanti’s Michigan State University Extension planner, will replace City Planner Richard Murphy Feb. 15 as he takes a new job with the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

The City of Ypsilanti will have a new city planner beginning Feb. 15.

Teresa Gillotti, Ypsilanti’s Michigan State University Extension planner, will replace...read more

City investigating alleged nepotism with police chief
By Dan DuChene
Feb. 3, 2010 · 1:29 a.m.

Updated: 10:33 a.m. ---------- The city of Ypsilanti is investigating an alleged relationship between the police department's newly appointed chief and a road...read more

Beal presents long-term plan for Thompson Block
By Christine Laughren
Feb. 3, 2010 · 12:54 a.m.

Stewart Beal, owner of Ypsilanti's Thompson Building, said he hopes to renovate 408 N. River to accommodate a bar/restaurant as part of a 10-month, two-phase plan presented to City Council Tuesday evening.

The owner of Ypsilanti’s Thompson Building presented a two-part plan to fully open the roads surrounding the burned building at 400 N. River St., as well as renovate...read more

Female body found near 220 Pearl Street
By Christine Laughren
Jan. 31, 2010 · 5:26 p.m.

Ypsilanti police parked in the N. Adams parking lot while wrapping up an investigation for a body found near the AATA Transit Center this afternoon. An overdose is suspected and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Updated Sunday, Jan. 31 7:24 p.m.

A City of Ypsilanti resident was found deceased at approximately 2 p.m. today in the parking lot near the Ann Arbor Transportation...read more

The Depot Town Downtown Development Authority voted Thursday morning to have the commuter rail platform in Depot Town located to the west side of the tracks.

Photo by Christine Laughren

The Depot Town Downtown Development Authority voted Thursday morning to have the commuter rail platform in Depot Town located to the west side of the tracks.

public forum and vote expected for May 7 meeting

By Christine Laughren
Apr. 27, 2009 · 10:07 a.m.

The last group has deliberated on the train platform in Depot Town and City Council is poised to vote on the issue at its May 7 meeting.

The Depot Town Downtown Development Authority voted Thursday morning to have the commuter rail platform in Depot Town located to the west side of the tracks. The final vote was 3-2 with Linda French, David Wheeler and Mayor Paul Schreiber voting for the west side and Carolyn McKeever and Sandee French voting for the east side.

Wheeler, chair of the DTDDA said he has tried to stay out of the debate and listened to both sides argue their case.

“The west side offers an advantage,” he said before the vote.

A public hearing and vote was scheduled at last Tuesday at City Council’s regular meeting. Schreiber proposed the city have more open forums and discussion among the community before council voted on it. However, Councilmember Brian Robb,D-Ward 3, said the community has had plenty of opportunity to give input.

“This is no longer a discussion, this is a brawl,” Robb said. “I just think we need to make a decision and move on.”

Michigan Department of Transportation, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and Amtrak are planning for a three-year commuter rail pilot, scheduled to stop in Depot Town October 2010.

It is believed the service would likely start with four or five trains daily as well as a couple stops on Saturday or Sunday. SEMCOG’s goal is to have 1,000 daily riders during the pilot period with 184 trip-ends (departures and arrivals counted separately) each day.

The train is also expected to stop in Ann Arbor, Detroit Metro Airport, Dearborn and Detroit.

East or west