Community Profiles: Washtenaw County

Website: http://www.ewashtenaw.org/

The proposed site of the new Aerotropolis is contiguous with our County’s eastern border and the City of Ypsilanti. I’ve been referring to the Aerotropolis project as the “Gateway to Washtenaw County” for some time now. But our present economic backdrop brings me to a new reflection: the Aerotropolis is the “Gateway to the Future” for our Midwest region.

By recognizing the strength of our assets, in this case 20,000 acres of largely undeveloped land spanning Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports, we have the possibility of bringing our State, and even our region to a new prosperity. It will be new because we have new ideas – about mass transit, about mindful stewardship of our environment and about the critical importance of public and private sector collaboration.

Washtenaw County is presently helping to lead a Community Success process to develop long-range strategies for community success to ensure that the greater Ann Arbor area maintains a high quality of living and sustained economic growth. With our private and public community partners, we’re looking for the vision - the story - that has the capacity to meet all challenges.

According to futurist author Richard Florida, “place” is becoming more relevant to the global economy and our individual lives. Here in Washtenaw County that sense of place - our communities’ livability and diversity – is a prized asset. The diverse character of 28 cities, villages and townships, offer a mix of urban, suburban, and rural settings for approximately 325,000 residents. The blend of different settings provides numerous opportunities for education, recreation, business, agricultural, and home life.

The Aerotropolis allows Washtenaw County to greet the future in a planful and confident way – as we share ourselves with the world. This project reminds us that the future is happening now, and we can either plan to survive – or plan to do great things. The Aerotropolis is a plan for greatness.

Robert E. Guenzel
Washtenaw County Administrator