That’s what Peter Allen, developer and adjunct professor, told a bus full of people touring downtown Ann Arbor hot spots of potential growth. Allen organized the tour to highlight his 10 reasons that Ann Arbor is well positioned for a much quicker economic recovery than many are thinking. Here a few of the reasons he sees that will accelerate Ann Arbors’ recovery and subsequent boom:

“Googlers” (Young people working in software and IT jobs) are attracted to Ann Arbor by quality of life and cost of living, the University of Michigan’s purchase of the former Pfizer campus, and the demand for green technology. Mr. Allen also expects total research funding coming to U of M to exceed 1 billion next year, up from the current $875 billion.

Other factors to help fuel the boom; East-West commuter rail line through Ann Arbor and Detroit that is targeted for a 2010 completion date. My hat is off to Mr. Allen for bucking the trend of reporting all the negatives going on and promoting all of the exciting possibilities for the great city of Ann Arbor. Mr. Allen is definitely a “glass half full” guy. My kind of guy!

If you have any questions/comments regarding this article-we welcome all feedback. If you have any questions regarding the purchase/sale of property or relocating to or from the Ann Arbor area, please feel free to contact us here at the Wickland Group. My team and I would love to assist you—“Because your move matters to us!”

By Steve Wickland

Additional resources from Ann Arbor Business Review