It was a telling moment. A group of graduate students from the University of Michigan had just finished making presentations to members of the Ann Arbor District Library board. They were part of a class on urban design taught by local developer Peter Allen.

The 1250 N Main building on the north side of Ann Arbor looks to be shaping up for another transition in the near future. Local developer and founder of Peter Allen & Associates Peter Allen is preparing to turn the 2-story commercial building overlooking Argo Pond into a 4-story mixed-use structure with space for commercial on the ground floor and residential units above it. The building's structure is more than adequate to accommodate such a transformation. "It's one of those beautiful, big, over-engineered buildings with the martini columns, like in Liberty Lofts," says Allen.

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"If the existing building were demolished and the new building built close to the street with parking in back or maybe underneath, it would be better," says Doug Allen of Peter Allen & Associates, Ann Arbor real estate developers. "If we were the developer, we'd build a two-to-four story mixed-use development with retail on the ground floor, offices on the second floor, and residential above for grad students and active seniors."   To handle the grade changes, you could put in nice retention ponds, something green in the back. How about an Olympic swimming pool? Not out of the question, he says.   Peter Allen, the name partner in Peter Allen & Associates, fills in the picture: "Because it's a straight shot to campus down Packard on a bus, the site might appeal to grad students. Or you might have a market for senior care. Retail (on the site) needs a combination of food convenience, drugstore, neighborhood restaurant, neighborhood bar."   "Ann Arbor is becoming a place for workers to say, 'I think I can stay here. I can work, play, live in this town.' We're getting to critical mass, helped by our attitude towards culture, recreation, and environmental thoughtfulness" the senior Allen continues.   Transit connections between downtown, the hospitals, north campus, and the former Pfizer complex, along with the imminent arrival of east-west rail to the airport and Dearborn/Detroit and the potential for trolley service will transform Ann Arbor and soon, he says.

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