Join us for a talk with urban planner, content creator, and UMich alum Brittany Simmons as she discusses how her time in Ann Arbor shaped her approach to making communities more livable, equitable, and economically vibrant places to live. Whether you’re a city planning enthusiast, a resident interested in local development, or just curious about how cities shape the lives of their inhabitants, this event offers an opportunity to gain insights from Simmons, an urban planner who has been featured in Business Insider, Crain’s New York, and the American Planning Association.

Why is an observatory in Ann Arbor named for Detroit? What made the Detroit Observatory a milestone for the University of Michigan and American higher education? How was the Observatory central to the growth of American astronomical science, when did it lose that role, and how did it get it back? And who were some of the people who made it all happen? Gary Krenz of the University’s Bentley Historical Library will explore these and other questions in this talk. In its 165-year history, the Observatory has gone through many transformations, and it is currently going through another—the construction of an addition to improve access, education, and programming. Krenz will also look at what that project entails and what lies ahead.

This event was in partnership with the University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library.

Due to a fortunate confluence of water, geography and entrepreneurial vision, Detroit at the end of the 19th century was poised to experience unprecedented growth. Even before the Ford Motor Company was established in 1903, Detroit was a major industrial center and transportation hub. All this commercial activity and prosperity led to a building boom of incredible proportions at a time when the most popular architectural styles were Beaux Arts, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, and Art Deco.

The first book to reevaluate the evocative and polarizing work of one of midcentury America’s most significant architects

The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area hosted a panel discussion on Proposal A, the "Library Lot." 

Representatives from groups that support or oppose Proposal A presented their views and answered audience questions. Speakers include:

Pro

Alan Haber, Ann Arbor Committee for the Community Commons

Will Hathaway, Ann Arbor Central Park Ballot Committee

Con

Linh Song

Jessica A .S. Letaw, YIMBY

Lustron homes were factory-made all-metal homes developed after WWII for the booming housing market. Most of their surfaces, inside and out and on their roofs were made of enameled steel. John lives in one, and in this talk he shares the ins and outs of occupying an all-metal home.

About John Heider:

John was a 28 year veteran newspaper photojournalist who was recently retired against his will and is also a ninja school dropout.

When it comes to architecture, we may not know what we like, but we know what we don't like: big buildings, greedy developers, the politicians that make both possible...

Hear more about the things we love to hate about buildings and cities; and, just maybe, discover some new things to love.

About Jessica A.S. Letaw:

This fun and informative event explains how your house can be made more energy efficient and whether solar power might be an option. 

Presenters include:

Anna Clark's new book is an account of the disastrous decisions that switched Flint, Michigan's water supply to a source that corroded the city's aging lead pipes—and the eighteen months of activism that finally forced the state government to admit that Flint's water had been poisoned with lead.