Hey there, Ann Arbor: Imagine waking up to the sound of progress rumbling through your hometown, but at the cost of cherished pieces of its past. That's the bittersweet reality we're grappling with right now, as two iconic University of Michigan spots are on the chopping block for demolition. But here's where it gets controversial—some say goodbye to outdated structures, while others cling to nostalgic ties. Stick around, because this story dives deep into the heart of change in our community, and you might find yourself questioning what truly deserves to stay.
- Ann Arbor (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/)
- Published: Dec. 05, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
By
- Samuel Dodge | sdodge@mlive.com (https://www.mlive.com/staff/sdodge/)
ANN ARBOR, MI - This week, the demolition plans for two University of Michigan landmarks stirred quite a buzz in our town. Honestly, I only feel a pang of nostalgia for one of them.
City reporter Ryan Stanton detailed how two aging elm trees, struggling with health issues, were cut down to stumps in the Law Quad (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/trees-that-stood-tall-over-university-of-michigan-law-quad-reduced-to-stumps.html). I vividly recall constructing—and then playfully wrecking—a snowman with my frat buddies beneath the shade of one, or tossing a football with my son as vibrant orange and red leaves drifted down from both. These are the memories I'll treasure going forward. As for the Wolverine Tower, a 52-year-old structure slated for demolition (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/university-of-michigan-to-demolish-52-year-old-building-in-ann-arbor.html), I'll borrow a line from the classic 90s movie 'Friday' and simply say: 'Bye, Felicia.'
It's not that I have anything against it personally. The tower has always struck me as an unusual outlier on university grounds, tucked away a few miles from campus and filled with administrative offices behind a bland, unremarkable facade.
Over the years, I've penned numerous pieces on preserving historic buildings in Ann Arbor (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/10/as-the-university-of-michigan-swells-in-size-some-fear-its-bulldozing-history.html), but this one? I doubt many folks will shed a tear. That said, if I'm completely off base, drop me a line at sdodge@mlive.com—I'd love to hear your take!
And this is the part most people miss: Shifting gears to broader county news, data centers have once again hogged the spotlight in Washtenaw County. As MLive's statewide reporter—and a former Ann Arbor News staffer—Lucas Larson-Smolcic reported (https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/12/massive-ai-data-center-deal-at-risk-if-not-fast-tracked-dte-says.html), almost 1,000 locals packed a public hearing to push for slowing the approval of DTE Energy's plan to boost electricity supply for the OpenAI/Oracle data center in Saline Township.
DTE claimed they must sidestep extensive public feedback, or risk losing a $7 billion investment to another state. They insisted rates wouldn't climb, but advocacy groups remain doubtful. To break this down for beginners, data centers are massive facilities housing powerful computers that process and store enormous amounts of data—think of them as the brains behind everything from AI chatbots to online searches. For those nearby, concerns often revolve around increased energy demands, potential noise, traffic, and environmental effects like higher carbon footprints.
In a column I shared a few weeks back (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/hello-ann-arbor-data-centers-may-be-inevitable-local-opposition-still-needs-a-voice.html), I emphasized that local voices must be amplified in these discussions. Residents living close to these sites endure the direct impacts, whether it's soaring utility bills or ecological worries. Valid or not, their input deserves consideration before any project advances.
The Michigan Public Service Commission might decide to accelerate the proposal by Friday, December 5, or delay it until December 19. Personally, I believe taking the extra time for transparency is entirely fair. But here's where it gets controversial—do we prioritize economic growth and innovation, potentially at the expense of community voices and environmental health? It's a tough balance, and opinions are sure to clash.
More data center chatter emerged from the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees meeting (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/township-asks-michigan-to-claw-back-100m-grant-funding-in-pushback-on-data-centers.html), where officials urged the state to reclaim its $100 million grant for the University of Michigan's partnership with Los Alamos.
Plus, another potential project looms in York Township. Government reporter Jen Eberbach uncovered early details (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/developers-seek-another-ai-data-center-on-land-owned-by-toyota-south-of-ann-arbor.html) of a real estate company eyeing 412 acres for sale near the Toyota Motor North American R&D Headquarters, east of Saline and north of Milan.
By the way, life in the county isn't all about data centers. Tensions are escalating (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/sheriff-accused-of-mishandling-hr-as-county-board-seeks-to-wrest-control-of-department.html) between Sheriff Alyshia Dyer and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
The board passed a resolution (https://washtenawcomi.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1571/files/attachment/5169) to shift oversight of four human resources positions from the sheriff's department to county administration. Though specifics remain murky, the board's statement highlighted 'deeply poor judgment,' uneven enforcement of county rules in personnel issues, and the fostering of an 'unhealthy work environment.'
Dyer responded sharply, labeling the resolution 'factually incorrect, inflammatory, strategically short-sighted, disrespectful to my employees, and violative of the Michigan constitution.'
This echoes prior heated debates (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/sheriff-disavows-jail-lockdowns-to-cut-costs-amid-27m-budget-shortfall-in-washtenaw-county.html) over Dyer's rejection of jail lockdowns during the board's budget-slashing efforts.
To wrap up on a lighter note: Business reporter William Diep's piece on Max Schikora, the bar manager at Echelon who's embraced sobriety for five years, was a standout (https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/11/hes-been-sober-5-years-and-hes-the-pro-behind-the-cocktails-at-swanky-new-ann-arbor-spot.html).
When the story first came my way, I was floored. I've savored plenty of tasty drinks at Echelon, and according to Diep, Schikora doesn't sample them to check quality.
It's about relying on his team—nine of whom shared with Diep that they're also in recovery from alcoholism.
'If they think it needs something or needs to go in a way, I have to take their feedback because I trust them,' Schikora explained.
I have faith in my team to uncover these fascinating tales across Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor native Sam Dodge serves as one of the editors for his hometown newspaper, The Ann Arbor News. He started with MLive in 2019 as an intern at the Jackson Citizen Patriot before committing full-time to Ann Arbor as a public...
What do you think, Ann Arbor? Should we rush into demolitions and developments for the sake of progress, or prioritize preserving memories and hearing every voice? Is the sheriff's office mishandling things, or is the board overstepping? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with the pushback on data centers, or see them as necessary for our tech-driven future? Let's discuss!
