Residents press council to curb scale of proposed 601 South Forest project; public hearing left open

Residents from Burns Park, the Third Ward and other nearby neighborhoods urged the Ann Arbor City Council to scale back a proposed large residential development at 601 South Forest, arguing the plan’s height and density would harm neighborhood character and strain infrastructure. The council opened public comment on the proposal and left the hearing open; the item will return for further consideration at a later meeting (the council indicated a tentative date of Aug. 18).

The concerns centered on building height, assumed parking behavior, potential occupancy and the scope of environmental incentives. Susan Fratt Walton, a Burns Park resident, opposed a very tall building and said, “This 20 25 story monstrosity is completely out of proportion.” Peter Negurni, co‑chair of the Burns Park North Association, argued the developer’s marketing of the project as a student dormitory is misleading and said, “It’s not a student dormitory. It’s a 1,142 room, bed rooming house.”

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