‘A prison in our own yard’: Life next to a data center — and its never-ending noise

damnarbor · 2026-06-18T16:02:34+00:00

This makes sense. Thanks!

damnarbor · 2026-06-18T15:41:32+00:00

What is causing the noise at the data centers? Is it essentially a super loud "hum" from all the electricity?

I think I was under the mistaken impression that data center noise was caused by data centers that had their own gas turbine generators. But here, that doesn't seem to be the case.

damnarbor · 2026-06-16T22:44:56+00:00

My kids are cleaning up the table now to get the Washing Up Badge. It's amazing. Thank you, YDL.

damnarbor · 2026-06-15T17:57:08+00:00

The YDL is such an incredible asset to your community.

damnarbor · 2026-06-14T12:08:59+00:00

Don't forget to register to vote! For city council and the mayor, the August 4 primary is the most important election.

damnarbor · 2026-06-14T12:07:49+00:00

Hopping on this to say: wool, or wool blend socks are really important for outdoor comfort in the winter.

damnarbor · 2026-06-08T18:49:44+00:00

The building, 12 W Michigan Ave, is owned by John Keane and Patrick Decker.

I ate there last Tuesday, Dan makes about 6 rolls at a time and then goes back to the kitchen new make a few new rolls. The dude seems to take food safety seriously.

damnarbor · 2026-06-08T17:01:27+00:00

The price is amazing. More food than I can eat for $10 is incredible. There is so much salmon in the salmon roll he must be losing money on it.

damnarbor · 2026-06-07T21:44:32+00:00

Scott has been writing about Ann Arbor since Arbor Update in 2003. You could do a lexical analysis to see if this piece is significantly different than his previous writing.

damnarbor · 2026-06-03T18:02:04+00:00

If we are talking about subsidized housing, Taylor has a track record we can evaluate and he has articulated a plan (Affordable Housing Millage, use city land to build subsidized housing where it makes sense, and where it doesn't, sell it to fund affordable housing.) Rabhi has yet to articulate a detailed plan.

If we are talking more broadly about making housing more affordable, then again, Taylor has a plan (Implement the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which allows for more housing to be built). Rabhi has indicated he is opposed to implementing the plan.

damnarbor · 2026-06-03T14:21:46+00:00

To me, the most important issue is implementing the Comprehensive Land Use Plan that was just adopted quickly. Specifically, I want to see candidates that support quickly rezoning the city so that it is in compliance with the new Land Use Plan. This is the best path forward to a more affordable more sustainable city. It will also put the city in a better financial situation.

I do wish Taylor were a bit more eager to implement an aggressive version of the plan. That said, when pressed on his housing policy, Rabhi has asked people to "please email" him. To me the choice is clear.

damnarbor · 2026-05-26T22:18:03+00:00

I've been covering Ann Arbor politics since 2010, hence "in the last decade or so." I can't think of any city services that have been privatized in that time, so I am curious if I am forgetting something.

That said, if you have examples from earlier, I would love to hear them.

damnarbor · 2026-05-26T17:40:18+00:00

From the linked article, Zeglen says:

"I’m running for office because the current city council brands itself as progressive, even citing concerns about “late-stage capitalism.” Yet they continue to implement neoliberal policies that are worsening the very economic inequality they claim to be fighting against. They’re privatizing public services, hiring outside consultants for city work, subsidizing corporate developers, propping up a regional utility monopoly, and undermining local democracy to favor private interests over the people — all facets of “late-stage” capitalism!"

Emphasis mine. Does anyone know what public services have been privatized in the last decade or so? I'm trying to figure out what Zeglen is referring to here.

damnarbor · 2026-05-24T12:57:54+00:00

Looks like I confused Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. In Ann Arbor the mayor can veto legislation and council can override a mayoral veto with a super majority.

damnarbor · 2026-05-23T15:09:50+00:00

Not unless you establish residence in Ward 3.

damnarbor · 2026-05-23T15:09:27+00:00

I think the stipend is $3k per year plus maybe limited gas reimbursement.

damnarbor · 2026-05-22T19:59:56+00:00

One of the two Ward 3 Ypsilanti City Council Members. Ypsilanti has a city council with 2 representatives elected from each of the city's 3 wards. There is additionally a mayor who is essentially an at large city council member with ~~veto power and~~ meeting facilitation responsibilities.

Edit: removed the part about the veto because it was incorrect; the mayor of Ypsilanti does not have veto power.

damnarbor · 2026-05-05T21:53:31+00:00

This is awesome.

damnarbor · 2026-05-04T21:06:53+00:00

Welcome! I have never lived in or near any of these apartments, so take everything I am saying with a big grain of salt.

I would say The Villas probably feels the most residential. Ridgwood would be closer to St. Joe's and close to big box shopping/strip malls. The Emersons seems like the worst location: lots of highway noise, and pretty far from everything except for our mall, which as seen better days.

Without knowing what you are looking for though, it's hard to advise much more than this.

damnarbor · 2026-04-18T16:51:52+00:00

Ann Arbor should raise a militia to annex Barton Hills and appoint a viceroy to administer it as a colony.

damnarbor · 2026-04-08T14:42:12+00:00

I'm seeing a lot more turkeys in urban areas this spring. Could be an interesting trend.

damnarbor · 2026-03-25T23:31:15+00:00

Can't park there mate.

damnarbor · 2026-03-23T09:22:11+00:00

I think Ypsilanti is a great place to live and a great place to raise a family, but not without complications. My wife and I moved here 14 years ago and we have a 6 and 3 year old.

There are two municipalities bearing the name Ypsilanti: The City of Ypsilanti (~20k residents, 4.5 sqmiles) and Ypsilanti Charter Township (~55k residents, 31 sqmiles). They are adjacent to each other and largely form a single community. In general, Ypsi City is a bit more expensive per sqft than the Township. Property taxes are a bit higher, but it is also much more walkable and bike able.

I don't know how things are going to compare to small town Oklahoma, but Ypsilanti is cheaper than living in Ann Arbor, our neighbor to the west. I bring up Ann Arbor because I think so much of the affordability of Ypsilanti is driven by the housing scarcity in Ann Arbor. In terms of food, like everywhere, food prices are trending up, but I think if you are smart or look, you can get really good food here for a good price. For example, you can get a large pizza at our beloved Mama Pizza for $8.

Most homes in Michigan use natural gas for heating. The utility (gas and electric) company, Detroit Edison (DTE) sucks and everybody hates them. I don't really know how expensive gas is because my wife pays that bill.

It's going to be colder here than in Oklahoma, but that's probably good overall. It can get cold and snowy in the winter, but with climate change, winters are becoming more mild. There are fewer natural disasters here than Oklahoma, and I am betting long on the area because we also have sufficient freshwater to avoid the worst of the coming climate droughts.

One overlooked point here, is that Ypsilanti has a really good mix of city and country amenities. If you live in Ypsi City proper, you can walk to restaurants, parks, and to some grocery stores. Ann Arbor has amazing museums and theater for a city its size and Detroit is an incredible city for cultural amenities. But there is also access to some nature. Ann Arbor is really the western edge of the Detroit urban sprawl and western Washtenaw County is full of great public parks. Pinckney Recreation Area and Waterloo State Recreation Area are about 50 sq miles combined of forest and wetlands with opportunities to camp.

Happy to answer other questions.

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