Things you may have heard about the August 5th Vote
by eli
Well, it's election season in Ann Arbor, and unfortunately that has come to mean a lot of disinformation circulating on social media. The library is an information organization, so it pains us to see false information spreading... especially when it's about the library!
We've been hearing from a lot of patrons that they're confused by what they're hearing from friends and neighbors or seeing online. When we talk with people for a few minutes, they usually understand what these questions are about and what their choices are. So, here are some of the false things we keep hearing people ask about, and the actual facts of the matter.
But first, an important disclaimer. AADL and its Staff cannot advocate for voters to vote one way or the other, we can only share factual information. That's why we'll be choosing our words so carefully, and why we won't be telling you how to vote.
Looking for basics about the proposals? Find them at aadl.org/vote. You might also check out this list of Frequently Asked Questions or this podcast episode all about the project.
1. Claim: The Library wants a No vote on Proposals A & B.
Facts: AADL is governed by your publicly-elected Board of Trustees, and they have unanimously passed resolutions in support of these ballot questions. The Library Board, as elected officials, can endorse ballot questions, and it is a fact that all 7 members of the AADL Board of Trustees have endorsed a yes vote on Proposals A & B.
2. Claim: Eli Neiburger has repeatedly cited a report that enough revenue can come in through leasing the space above the AADL's current property to fund construction of a new library building.
Facts: The 2019 Mixed-use Library Feasibility Study modeled several financial scenarios. In this report, the best financial scenario for a new Downtown Library on its current site, with a lease of air rights above a new building, would fall $78M short of the funds required for construction.
Building a new Downtown Library on both sites, one of which already has a foundation, would significantly increase the amount of housing that can be built as part of the project, providing more money that AADL can put towards construction costs, making the project more viable and less susceptible to economic conditions, while improving the resulting public space.
3. Claim: Look at this huge building AADL plans to build.
Facts: A rendering has been circulating, in mailers and print ads, that many patrons assume was produced by AADL. It shows a very large building with a small hole where Library Lane would run through, and is labeled "Representative Massing for Potential AADL Development". This rendering was not produced by AADL, does not represent AADL's vision, disregards engineering realities, and does not adhere to building codes for residential space. It shows many stories of building on top of parts of the underground parking structure that do not have underground support for a building, and were intended to be a public plaza in the original parking structure design.
4. Claim: The Library Green Conservancy is an advocacy organization for the Library.
Facts: AADL has no relation to the Library Green Conservancy, which does not speak for the Library, nor does it represent the Library's interests.
5. Claim: This is related to that 'pause the plan' stuff.
Facts: This is not the plan those signs are calling to pause. You can find out facts about the City of Ann Arbor's Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan on the city's public engagement site. Proposals A and B are unrelated to the Draft Land Use Plan, though many of the same people are organizing opposition to both.
6. Claim: The Library will just turn around and sell it.
Facts: While the Library Board does have the ability to sell any of AADL's property, AADL's interest in the surface of the Library Lane Parking Structure is to increase the footprint of the new Downtown Library, enabling a better library to be built for the community. The Library Board is committed to a Downtown Library on its current location. Its proximity to transit, foot traffic, protected bike lanes, parking, businesses, and partners provides the community with a highly accessible public resource.
7. Claim: They're planning a much smaller library.
Facts: In 2019, AADL commissioned a Downtown Library Program, a text document describing the architectural requirements of a new Downtown Library. That document calls for a building with 153,000 square feet of space, an increase of about 40% over the current building. While that document will be revised as part of the next steps of the project, a new Downtown Library will be a large building with housing above, not a sliver of someone else's project.
8. Claim: The new library will only be on the second floor.
Facts: This is a misinterpretation of the City Manager's mention of the possibility of a large second floor spanning Library Lane as part of a new library. A large second floor spanning Library Lane would provide a much larger space for AADL's expos and festivals, but that would just be one of several floors of the library, including the ground floor. AADL will need multiple floors, including the ground floor, to provide the space needed for a new Downtown Library.
9. Claim: There won't be any outdoor public space.
Facts: Outdoor public space is a central component of AADL's vision for the sites. You won't hear us call it a park, because libraries don't operate parks, just like parks departments don't operate libraries. Part of the surface of the parking structure was designed to be made into a public plaza suitable for events, and we also hope to include rooftop outdoor public space as part of the project.
10. Claim: It's selling off public land.
Fact: These proposals would authorize the City of Ann Arbor to sell its interests in the Library Lane Parking Structure to the Ann Arbor District Library, and only to the Library. The Ann Arbor District Library is a public body governed by a publicly-elected board of trustees, separate from the City of Ann Arbor. It's a transfer of public property from one public body to another public body, and it's common to organize such a transfer of real estate as a $1 sale, to simplify the transaction. AADL intends to own this property and build a public library on it.
11. Claim: It's a giveaway to developers.
Fact: Nothing is being given away to developers through these proposals. AADL plans to solicit proposals to develop housing above the new library, with the goal of obtaining as much money from development partners as possible, to be used to fund the new Downtown Library.
12. Claim: The new library will be owned by developers.
Fact: The Downtown Library is owned by the public, and the new Downtown Library will continue to be owned by the public.
13. Claim: The Library won't have control of its own space.
Fact: There is no scenario in which AADL would not have control of its own space. AADL would be the lead on the project and would retain majority ownership of the finished building. The Library Board will be issuing a public Request for Proposals, and will publicly decide which developers' proposals offer the best options for AADL and the community.
14. Claim: Don't privatize the Library.
Fact: The AADL is a public unit of government, governed by a publicly-elected board, accountable to the public. Nothing about these proposals changes that. AADL is an organization deeply committed to the public good and public ownership of resources, as our track record proves. There are no plans to privatize any library services.
15. Claim: The Downtown Library is no longer on public land.
Fact: The Downtown Library is owned by the public, standing on land owned by the public. The recent rezoning of the current Downtown Library site was to open the possibility of private housing development above a new public library, and did not change the ownership of the land or the building.
16. Claim: Stop Selling Park Land!
Fact: The surface of the Library Lane parking structure is not parkland. It was designated in the city charter that the city-owned land on that block would "be retained in public ownership, in perpetuity, and developed as an urban central park and civic center commons known as the Center of the City." Proposal A keeps the surface of the Library Lane parking structure in public ownership by requiring the City of Ann Arbor to transfer it to AADL. While the charter language calls for the space to be developed as a park and commons, the surface parking lot has not been developed into a city park and is not maintained by the Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation department.
17. Claim: The Library will be getting into the housing business.
Fact: AADL will not be owning, financing, building, nor operating any housing. AADL will be operating a public library. Partners selected by the AADL Board will develop, finance, build, own, and operate any housing above the new Downtown Library.
18. Claim: It will just be luxury apartments.
Fact: AADL will be seeking partners to develop a mix of housing types including senior housing, affordable housing, artist housing, and market-rate housing.
19. Claim: They're getting rid of all the books.
Fact: AADL loves books and will continue to center them in a new library. The collections of the Downtown Library will be stored at the AADL warehouse during construction, and will remain available to patrons by request, just like the rest of the AADL collection.
20. Claim: This is too complicated.
Fact: AADL works with a very complicated set of systems, vendors, authorities, University departments, institutions, organizations, partners, tenants, and patrons every day. Yes, this is a complicated project. AADL has a proven track record of managing complexity and communicating it clearly to patrons.
21. Claim: They will raise taxes later.
Fact: AADL is already levying the full amount authorized by the voters and the law, and cannot raise taxes without voter approval. The goal of the project is to bring in enough revenue from development of housing above the new library on both sites to fund its construction.
22. Claim: The Proposals are not binding, and the Library will be able to do anything it wants with the property.
Facts: If the proposals are approved by voters, AADL will be required to accomplish the stated purpose: building a mixed-use development on the Library Lane Parking Structure that includes additional library services, housing, retail, and programmable open public space. The language of the ballot questions has been approved as true and impartial by the Michigan Attorney General.
Still have questions about something you've heard or read? Get answers straight from the horse's mouth; just email eli@aadl.org and I'll be happy to answer any other questions you have.
Thank you for reading all this! We appreciate your interest in accurate information as you consider these questions.
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