Visions of Argo: Alternative Futures for Ann Arbor's Riverfront

Abstract

Visions of Argo explores the current and historical state of an urbanized reach of the Huron River in Ann Arbor, Michigan and proposes and evaluates three alternative futures for sustainable riverfront redevelopment. The legacy of historic industrial land use, in conjunction with current physical impacts on hydrologic conditions and river morphology, has clearly impacted the ecological health of the Huron River. The city initiated, Huron River Impoundment Management Plan (HRIMP) Committee, began exploring the complex web of issues affecting the Ann Arbor reach of Huron River in 2007. One key issue that has been under consideration by the city for over a decade and now faces the HRIMP Committee is a decision over whether to remove Argo Dam. Argo Dam does not currently provide many of the functions for which it was created. Increasing maintenance costs, safety hazards, and environmental concerns have initiated discussions about the feasibility and desirability of dam removal. Removing Argo Dam would restore the Ann Arbor portion of the Huron River to a free flowing river and improve ecological conditions, while also exposing riparian land for new uses. Given the opportunity to radically transform the Argo Riverfront under a dam removal scenario, the HRIMP committee is now faced with the question, how should the river be re-imagined? Visions of Argo, describes three plausible visions, differentiated by alternative sets of resident desires and assumptions about future conditions. The scenarios developed in this project are the: (1) Biodiversity + Heritage Corridor, (2) Rainwater Adventure Park, and (3) Sustainable Live/Work Community. Each scenario is used to create designs of their future, which are compared and assessed according to their ecological health, stormwater management, human engagement, and development outcomes. The future visions each succeed in demonstrating how complex issues and different resident desires can lead to a coherent future; thereby enhancing the amenity value of the Huron River, the ecological health of the riparian corridor, and the sense of place along the Argo Riverfront.