Mission Green

Ann Arbor conceptual illustrator Stephan Trendov stands in front of the site on Fifth Avenue where the city has constructed a new underground parking garage. Embracing the vision for a downtown central park, Trendov has sketched a set of conceptual illustrations, including one inviting people to imagine what the so-called Library Lot might look like with both a large park and a 13-story building — including office, residential and retail uses — sharing the site. But at least for the foreseeable future, a surface parking lot will stand atop the 700-space garage that extends four stories below ground. "If our ancestors were to come back here, they'd need to see some recognizable signs of the nature that was there that belongs to them," Trendov said, expressing hope for more green space downtown. "We've eradicated that. With that, we eradicate part of our history." Check out his drawings.