#1 seed Wolverines, new Ashley Street bar, $20M in orange cones

Morning, Ann Arbor! Morning, Ann Arbor! Tournament starts Thursday and your Wolverines play at 7:10 PM in Buffalo. City Council votes on the land use plan tonight. Bill's opened this weekend, St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, and March is moving fast.

🌡️ Still windy. 27° tomorrow, 50s by Thursday. Typical March in Michigan.

Read Time: 5 minutes

Reader Count: 4,390 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 3.56%

🧪 After 40 Years, the Gelman Plume Gets Federal Help

The EPA just named the Gelman plume a Superfund site. That means federal dollars and federal muscle to clean up the 1,4-dioxane pollution that's been spreading through Ann Arbor's groundwater since the 1960s. Dan Bicknell, the U-M grad student who found the plume back in 1984, said it simply: "This ensures that federal resources will be utilized to compel Gelman to perform a proper clean-up." Rep. Debbie Dingell called it "an important step forward." Forty years is a long time to wait. Michigan Public

🏀 Your Wolverines Are a #1 Seed

Michigan beat Ohio State on Friday, then Wisconsin in the semis, before losing to Purdue 75-66 in Sunday's Big Ten championship game. Final record: 30-3 with a #1 seed locked up. Yaxel Lendeborg won Big Ten Player of the Year. Aday Mara won Defensive Player of the Year. The Wolverines are co-favored to win it all at +320. ON3 Sports

🏠 City Council Votes on Major Land Use Plan Today

Ann Arbor City Council is expected to adopt the new land use plan today. The big change: duplexes and triplexes allowed in residential areas, up to three stories. Four-to-six-unit housing in moderate zones. High-rise in commercial corridors. The Planning Commission approved it unanimously last month. One resident at the public hearing: "I would like to have teachers, and nurses. I'd love if my dental hygienist could live in Ann Arbor." Homes that sold for $120K a generation ago now go for $350K. Something has to give. Michigan Public

🚧 $20M in Downtown Construction Projects This Summer:

City Council approved nearly $20 million in downtown projects that'll mean road closures, slower drives, and less parking around the core all summer. Key work includes the former YMCA affordable housing site and moving the Blake Transit Center to Fifth and East Washington. City spokesman Robert Kellar on what makes this summer different: "Not only that road, mobility, and utility work that normally goes on is in an area where there's a lot of other projects happening at the same time." Plan your summer commute now. WEMU

🚗 Dunbar Tower Gets $5/Hour Electric Car Share

Residents at Dunbar Tower can now rent an electric car for $5 an hour through MI Carshare. It's the first program of its kind in Michigan, funded by MDOT. Avalon Housing's Dan Meisler: "Many of our residents aren't able to easily run errands, like go to the grocery store or fill a prescription, because they don't have a car." The car is already in high demand, and the state plans to add 65 more shared EVs by 2028. WEMU

🏥 Michigan Senate Passes Medical Debt Bills

Five bipartisan bills would stop medical debt from tanking your credit score, ban wage garnishment and home foreclosure over hospital bills, and cap interest at 3%. Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing): "Medical debt isn't just a one-time bill. It can damage credit, threaten housing, and wages." The bills now head to the House. Michigan Public

🎬 64th Ann Arbor Film Festival Returns March 24-29:

 The oldest experimental film festival in the world hits the Michigan Theater with six days of avant-garde cinema from 65+ countries. Highlights include the 25th anniversary of Out Night and a Ukrainian filmmakers spotlight. CLUSTER kicks things off early with Chicago artist Kioto Aoki's solo show (March 20-28), opening reception March 20 from 6-9pm. Individual shows start at $9, festival passes at $90. AA Film Fest

🍷 Aperitivo Opening on Ashley Street This Spring: The green building at Ashley and Washington is becoming Aperitivo, a wine and cocktail bar with a food truck in the courtyard. It's on the same block as Recess Cafe and Bill's Beer Garden. Opening spring 2026. This feels like a 10/10 addition for the neighborhood.  Check them out via Instagram

On the Market

1512 Shadford Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 — $829,000 3 bed | 2 bath | 1,901 sqft
1920s Tudor in Burns Park that got pulled last summer is back. New owners bought it for $515K in 2019, renovated everything (kitchen, HVAC, wiring, plumbing), and are asking $829K. Walk to York and Argus.

1517 Morton Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104—$949,900 4 bed | 2 bath | 2,563 sqft
Burns Park colonial from 1929 with original hardwood, crown molding, and a Butler's Pantry. Four bedrooms, 145-foot lot, basement rec room. Two blocks from Burns Park. Sold for $506K in 2013.

303 Detroit St #202, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 — $1,995,000  3 bed | 4 bath | 2,412 sqft
Local developer Tom Fitzsimmons and MAVD turned the old Ann Arbor Observer building into 18 luxury condos. This one is three beds with a balcony overlooking the Farmers Market. Kerrytown's first office-to-residential conversion.

Adoptable Humane Society Pets

Moose Tracks — Dog | Shy at first, your best friend once he trusts you. A shy kind of dog who turns friendly and fun with patience. Best in a quieter home without young children. Currently in foster care. Meet Moose Tracks

Cleopatra — Cat | FeLV positive, trying her best, working hard to be comfortable in all kinds of homes. Needs time, space, and patience to settle in. Meet Cleopatra

Chardonnay — Cat | Shy but worth the wait. A shy cat looking for a patient person. Give her time, and she opens right up. Quieter home preferred. Meet Chardonnay

That's all for now! Have a great week in Tree Town!

— Ryan + James

P.S. - If you like what you read, subscribe below.

P.P.S. - Kneecap is playing at Michigan Theater tomorrow night (March 17, 7pm). Three Belfast rappers, one wild story. If you haven't seen it, go. Michigan Theater

P.P.P.S. - Bill’s Beer Garden opened this past Saturday, which means winter is officially over regardless of what the calendar says.

P.P.P.P.S. - Conor O'Neill's has live music tonight at 5:30pm, doors open at 7am tomorrow for St. Patrick's Day with bagpipers and Irish dancers. Ann Arbor's annual green beer marathon begins.

P.P.P.P.P.S. - Stopped by Curious Coffee like we promised. The hype is real. And they're moving to their own spot on N Main St (old Mighty Good location) soon.