Defeat

The postmortem of the Ann Arbor District Library's campaign for a new downtown library began early Tuesday night, as soon as election results showed the proposal failing in key precincts. Supporters of the Our New Downtown Library committee who gathered at the Real Seafood Co. acknowledged their message obviously didn't resonate with voters. By the end of the night, they had accepted defeat, but they weren't budging on their position that a new downtown library is needed. Read the story.

Park It

Ann Arbor's new Library Lane underground parking structure ceremonially opened to the public Thursday night, bringing 711 parking spaces on four levels below ground, plus another 52 spaces above grade. Dozens of people came out to join the Downtown Development Authority and city officials in celebrating the $50 million project's completion. Read the story and check out my photo gallery with captions to these photos.

Downtown Dish

Leah Gunn assumed the role of chair of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority this past week, unanimously chosen by her peers on the DDA board for the job. Gunn, who also is serving out her last term on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, caught up with me to chat about her new role, the health of the downtown, the ongoing construction boom, and what she sees on the horizon. Read the Q&A.

Gunning For Per Diems

Washtenaw County Commissioner Leah Gunn, D-Ann Arbor, is calling for an end to the payment of "per diems" to county commissioners for attending meetings. A report by the county clerk recently determined that more than $26,000 in per diem and mileage payments collected by county commissioners from 2005 to 2009 were either ineligible or questionable. $175 of those expenses belonged to Gunn, who said today she is mailing a check to the county clerk for $175. "I do not wish to have my good intentions and my integrity brought into question on a minor matter such as this," she said, adding: "It is my intention to resubmit my resolution from 2009 that commissioners shall no longer receive per diems, travel money or mileage. This will be part of a package that being organized by the chair of the board. It will eliminate the Money Purchase Pension Plan (for commissioners) and will reorganize and possibly eliminate various boards and commissions of the county." Read the story here.