Demolition paves way for controversial 413 E. Huron development

is to take shape at the corner of Huron and Division streets in downtown Ann Arbor have been reduced to rubble.

Crews could be seen Tuesday afternoon clearing pieces of the buildings, including the former Papa John's Pizza at the corner, into large dump trucks to be hauled away.

Demolition on East Huron Street near Division Street on Tuesday, June 4.

Daniel Brenner I AnnArbor.com

The description of the permit on the city's online permit-tracking website states: "Demo Building for Immediate Re-Development."

O'Neal Construction also applied for a building permit on March 21, but city records show the status of that permit listed as "on hold" for now.

The 413 E. Huron apartment building, controversial because it will tower over a historic neighborhood to the north, met the city's zoning requirements and so the City Council had no choice but to approve it, argued the majority of council members who OK'd the project last month.

But following months of intense lobbying, protest, community debate, and hours of public hearings and deliberations, council members' failure to stop a project they didn't want to approve at least not as presented has raised questions about the city's downtown zoning.

Residents continued to speak out against the project at Monday night's council meeting, calling the project's approval a failure of the city's zoning and development approval process.

Ann Arbor resident Peter Nagourney said a majority of council members erred when they cited fear of losing a potentially costly lawsuit as their reason for not stopping the project.

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Demolition paves way for controversial 413 E. Huron development