Mark Maynard | our fragile downtown business ecosystem

Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interview: Newcombe Clark

By Mark | April 10, 2013

A week or so ago, in front of an audience at Conor O’Neills, I had the pleasure of conducting a live exit interview with Ann Arbor-born commercial real estate broker turned University of Michigan MBA Newcombe Clark, who will soon be leaving Michigan for Chicago. As there was still a great deal that we didn’t [...]

Ypsilanti deserves better than a Family Dollar store on Water Street

By Mark | November 17, 2012

Certain kinds of businesses do well in times of great economic uncertainty. Chief among them are so-called “variety stores” and “dollar stores.” As Howard Levine, the CEO of Family Dollar, one of America’s leading chains operating in this sector recently said to the press, “In today’s uncertain economic environment, value continues to resonate… Our strategy [...]

Posted in Economics, Rants, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged AnnArbor.com, Burger King, Charlotte, Chase Ingersoll, cohousing, Core Resources, dollar stores, economic development, Family Dollar, Leslie Leland, Mark's big ideas, Mix, national chains, North Carolina, Paul Balcom, Paul Schreiber, shipping containers, The Rocket, variety stores, Water Street, Ypsilanti City Council | 124 Comments

The U-M architects charged with envisioning Ypsilanti’s much anticipated recreation center share their designs, and discuss why this “new civic anchor” is so important to the future of the city

By Mark | September 26, 2012

As I think most of you know, a team of University of Michigan architects and their graduate students were approached some time ago and asked to envision what a new Water Street recreation center might look. Having completed their design concepts, they will be presenting their work to the citizens of Ypsilanti at SPARK East [...]

Posted in Architecture, Sustainability, Ypsilanti | Also tagged architecture, Border to Border Trail, brown field, Cathy Duchon, city planning, community building, community facilities, Craig Borum, Eastside Recreation Center, economic development, emerald necklace, flooding, Huron River, Huron River greenway, Jen Maigret, MAde studio, Maria Arquero, Michigan Avenue, Olmstead Brothers, PLY Architecture, public space, recreation center, Riverside Park, Robert Marans, sustainable urbanism, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, trees, University of Michigan, urban form, urban planning, walkable downtown, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, Washtenaw County Parks Commission, water management, Water Street, Waterworks Park, YMCA | 33 Comments

Ypsi’s VG Kids, considering a move to Ann Arbor

By Mark | November 15, 2009

My friend James owns the local screen printing company, VG Kids. I’ve written about them here plenty of times in the past, and I’ve held them up as an example of the kind of young, dynamic, quality-focused, arts-centered company that we need more of here in Ypsi. So, as you might expect, I wasn’t exactly [...]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Ypsilanti | Also tagged Beezy's, FLY Children's Art Center, Henrietta Fahrenheit, James Marks, light industrial, Maggie's Organics, screen printing, Shadow Art Fair, space needed, Spur Studios, VG Kids, Water Street, Whole Foods, Ypsi Food Co-op, Ypsilanti critical mass | 70 Comments

Tag Archives: our fragile downtown business ecosystem

Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interview: Newcombe Clark

Ypsilanti deserves better than a Family Dollar store on Water Street

The U-M architects charged with envisioning Ypsilanti’s much anticipated recreation center share their designs, and discuss why this “new civic anchor” is so important to the future of the city

Ypsi’s VG Kids, considering a move to Ann Arbor

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