Ann Arbor’s Main Street gets a national nod from The American Planning Association which recognizes excellence in planning. They announced earlier this month that Ann Arbor’s main downtown thoroughfare made the list in its 2009 Great Places in America – Streets Contest. This is a great honor and wonderful news for all those who are thinking of  moving to Ann Arbor or relocating to Ann Arbor!

“South Main Street is downtown Ann Arbor’s center of activity and community gathering place,” the association states on its Web site. “The continuous rhythm of detailed masonry building store-fronts right  at the sidewalk’s edge contributes to an exciting pedestrian environment. Continuous efforts to preserve these buildings by the City of Ann Arbor ensures that the street’s unique appearance and character remain intact.”  Susan Pollay, director of Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority said “I’m enormously proud – we  all are. Our Main Street is an absolute centerpiece of our community and to have it cited nationwide as one of the great streets is a source of  enormous pride and something that we’ve all known about and now it’s great that others are finding out about it as well.”

Main Street was singled out for its forward-looking planning and development aimed at helping lower the city’s carbon footprint. Among other things, the city is increasing housing density, preserving historic buildings and increasing transportation choices along Main Street. Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje said the award is a culmination of extensive public involvement in developing city policies that help to preserve the historic fabric of Main Street. About 80 percent of the structures along the three blocks of South Main designated a 2009 Great Street are protected by the city-designated Main Street Historic District that was established in 1989. South Main Street, which was part of Ann Arbor’s original city plat in 1824, has always been integral to the central business district.

Other streets on The American Planning Association’s
2009 Great Places in America list:

• Broadway Street, Skagway, Alaska
• President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas
• Front Street, Bath, Maine
• Front Street, Traverse City, Michigan
• Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, New Jersey
• Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina
• Duke of Gloucester, Williamsburg, Virginia
• North Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
• East Newberry Blvd, Milwaukee Wisconsin