Some things that have come down the line.

[Kurt A]

Hello Neighbors here are a few items that have come across my desk that you might be interested in. 

One interesting idea that came across is the idea of Sharehoods. I know a lot of us borrow things from our neighbors but this is a way to set a community structure to make it happen. There really isn't a need for everyone to own a pressure washer to be used once or twice a year individually so why not have a community pressure washer? Find out information at http://thesharehood.org/ and discuss with me if you are interested. 

Along those lines there is also a group working to get Zip Cars into Ypsilanti. Zip Cars is a car sharing service. 

Bellow you will find information on; Heritage Festival Road Closure, Record Sale at the Corner Brewery This Sunday, Bicycling to the Heritage Festival+Garden Tour and Home Tour, Sidewalk Maintenance a nd you. 

As always write me with any questions, 
prospectparkneighborhood at comcast.net 

Take care, 
Kurt 




Heritage Fest Road Closures 


Thursday - all day 
Cross st b/w Huron and River 
Market 


Friday - all day 
Cross st b/w Huron and River 
Market 

Saturday - all day 
Cross st b/w Huron and River 
Market 

Saturday - between 8a - 11a 
Michigan Ave b/w Second Ave and River. If you're heading West, take Congress or Cross up to Mansfield. Normal and Summit are 
not far enough and you'll be turned around by YPD/VSC blocking the street. 
Huron St between Catherine and Cross. You can take Harriet/Spring up to Prospect for the Michigan Ave detour 
Cross St between Huron and Adams 

Saturday - between 8a - sometime after noon 
Pearl between Huron and Washington. Because it's a one-way you really won't be able to get to it during the parade and afterwards 
DAY is holding a bed race on the block. 

Sunday - all day 
Cross st b/w Huron and River 
Market 

Cousins Vinyl will be at the Corner Brewery this Sunday, August 23rd for another vinyl digging/open DJ beer garden event, hosted by Dannyboy. We'll have a bunch of crates of top notch dollar records for sale, and DJs will rotate throughout the afternoon and evening, playing a variety of happy summer music to enjoy while this warm weather is still here. A special beer will be brewed for the event. Bring your friends and neighbors and spouses and children. 




Bicycle To The Heritage Festival (Free Bike Parking) and Festival Tours 


As in past years, free valet bicycle parking will be offered at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival on Saturday, August 22nd from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday, August 23rd from 11am until 6pm. The location of the parking is on Cross Street, just east of Huron Street. For a Google map to the parking site, click here . On the Friday of the Heritage Festival there will be free, unattended bike parking (bring your own lock to use on the bike rack provided) at the same location. And also, don't forget the Heritage Festival Bike Fest on Saturday in the big tent on the southeast corner of Huron and Cross (click on http://www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com/schedule.htm and go to the "Bike Fest Schedule" link). 

If you are thinking about taking in the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival Garden Tour (Saturday, August 22nd) or the Festival Home Tour (Sunday, August 23rd), consider doing so by bike this year. There will be an informal group ride for each respective tour at 1pm leaving from the Heritage Festival Bike Valet parking area on Cross Street, just east of Huron. 

For the Saturday Garden Tour, it is recommended that tickets ($10 each) be purchased prior to the Tour at Mantis Pet Supply - 1145 Michigan Avenue, Bombadills --217 W Michigan, Apple Annie's Vintage Clothing - 29 E Cross, or Salt City Antiques - 115 W Michigan Avenue, Ypsi. Tickets will also available Saturday morning in front of Towner House on Huron Street (opposite the Ypsi Historical Museum) or you can purchase them at any of the Garden Tour stops. For more information on the Garden Tour (including Tour site addresses), visit http://www.ypsilantigardenclub.org/Garden-Tour-2009.html . 

For the Sunday Home Tour, advance tickets can be purchased ($10) at Haabs, Salt City Antiques (Michigan Ave.), What Is That Gallery (Michigan Ave.), Bowerbird Mongo (Michigan Ave.), Nelson Amos (23 E. Cross- Depot Town), Norton's Flowers and Gifts (Washtenaw) and Downtown Home and Garden in Ann Arbor. Day of Tour Tickets: $12 at Haabs and in front of the Ypsilanti Historical Museum. For more on the home tour, including Tour locations, visit http://www.yhf.org/ . 

Bob Krzewinski 
Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition 

Sidewalks : maintenance is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. This includes unevenness (heave of over 1/2" is no longer ADA compliant, FYI, and can present significant barriers to people using wheelchairs or walkers), overgrowth of grass (keep those sidewalks edged!), and overgrowth of brush (clear all overhanging brush- as a rule of thumb, I'd probably try to ensure that you've got at least 7 feet of clearance- happy to look up the ordinance if you want clarification). 

Snow : the adjacent property owner is responsible for keeping the sidewalks clear of ice and snow. Snow and ice must be removed within 48 hours of first accumulation. There's not a depth called out in the code that I can see (at a glance), but I know that the standard commercial contract (well, those that I've seen for Stadium Meadows) is for accumulations exceeding 1/2", and for any ice accumulation. In my chats with people who use motorized wheelchairs, they say that 1" is pretty impassable- it just packs into the tires and they aren't able to get grip. Some neighborhood entrepreneurs could have quite the business with snow removal! Also, the City DPS recommends that when digging out your driveway that you pile the snow to your right (as you face the street), because that way there's less of a chance of all that snow being plowed right back into your drive by a passing plow. 

Curbcuts (where the sidewalk intersects the street): the adjacent property owner is responsible for maintenance of curb cuts. This includes keeping it clear of brush, ice, and other debris, as well as making sure it's in good condition overall. When the City resurfaces a street, generally speaking, it upgrades the curbcuts to meet current ADA standards. That is the only time the City works on them, if they're not adjacent to City property (such as the parks, City Hall, and so on). 

Crosswalks, streetlights, and pedestrian signals : Depending on the street involved, they could be the jurisdiction of the City, the County Road Commission, or the State. If you have a specific concern, contact the City and they can hook you up with the appropriate authority. 

Streetlights : If there's a problem with a streetlight, you can report it to Ypsi DPS. Many (most) streetlights have a "license plate" on the pole- a yellow tag with black numbers/letters running vertically. If you can read that, it helps DPS and DTE track down the pole, thus getting that lightbulb changed much more quickly. 

To report these and/or other sorts of concerns to the City , you can use the handy-dandy Ypsilanti Citizen Action Center at http://mygovhelp.org/ypsilantimi/_cs/RequestSelect.aspx?sSessionID= , or just call DPS at 734-483-1421. 
If you'd like to offer feedback on these policies/methods , please call your local councilperson ( http://cityofypsilanti.com/bd_city-council ). 

Disclaimer : all of this info is accurate to the best of my knowledge. It is provided to you, the reader, in my capacity as a private citizen. 
--- 
Bonnie Wessler 


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