City voters chose a new fate for a bitterly disputed piece of property in the heart of Ann Arbor's downtown.
About 58% of city voters approved Proposals A and B in the August primary on Tuesday. The measures authorize the city to transfer development rights to the top of the Library Lane Parking Structure to the Ann Arbor District Library.
That's after the property remained undeveloped for seven years.
"We are so gratified by this vote of confidence from the community," Ann Arbor District Library Director Eli Neiburger said.
He added that he thought the margin of victory was particularly significant, given what he called "misinformation" by opponents.
Flyers sent to Ann Arbor homes inaccurately claimed that Proposals A and B were a key part of the city's rezoning process. The flyers showed a small single family home with a multi-story apartment building towering over it.
In fact, Proposals A and B aimed to finally determine the fate of the Library Lane Parking Structure, which is next to the library system's main branch building.
Neiburger said of course people who voted against the proposals will be disappointed.
"But hey, we're still their library," he said. "It doesn't matter how you voted, we're still your library. We look forward to having them in the library to serve them, and we look forward to welcoming them into the new library when its ready."
In 2018, city officials had struck a development deal for the plot with a company for $10 million. The developer would then build a high rise that included housing, including some below-market rate housing.
But grassroots groups put a measure on the ballot to block that plan, and designate the property as a city center park. About 53% of voters approved the measure in 2018.
No action was taken by the city after that vote, however. City officials said they could not effectuate the idea because there was no funding available for the park, and the parking structure had been designed to support a high rise, not a park.
Supporters of the park measure accused city officials of acting undemocratically, by refusing to take action on the will of the voters. A stalemate ensued.
A few planters with languishing greenery and some parking spaces occupy the top of the lot at present.
Ann Arbor District Library officials say they will choose a developer to build a high rise on the disputed land.
It will be a careful, lengthy process, Neiburger said, so the ribbon cutting won't be for another six to seven years. Initial first steps: The city council has to vote to approve the transfer. The AADL will then begin discussions with potential developers after the transfer is official, and later with designers of the proposed high rise building and the rest of the site.
They say the high rise will include a new, larger downtown library, some retail, a mix of affordable and market rate housing, and public plaza.
In a statement, the Library Green Conservancy said it acknowledges the results of the special election of August 5, 2025. The conservancy is one of two groups that opposed Proposals A and B.
"With respect to numbers, we note that total voter turnout is less than half (approximately 46%) of the 2018 general election turnout," the statement said. "As we have since 2018, we will work with the community to contribute ideas for an urban park and community open space. We will seek both common goals and ongoing commitment to create a space that is welcoming, engaging, and sustained."
(The Library does not use the word "park" when describing its plans for a public plaza, saying as a library system it cannot operate a park.)
Meanwhile, two taxpayers who sued the city over Proposals A and B have voluntarily dismissed their claims.
The lawsuit alleged the proposals were a "fraud upon the electorate," and asked the judge to declare the proposals' ballot language void and strike it from the ballot, or cancel the election "in the interests of justice.”
That didn't happen; instead Judge Julia Owdziej scheduled a hearing for late August for arguments on the city’s motion for summary disposition.
