Monthly Tips for Tenants: July
Information for Students Seeking Off-Campus Housing
Although space is available in residence halls and family and single graduate housing units, many students choose to look at off-campus rental options. If you want to live off-campus, we encourage you to look at options for the Fall now.
The number of available rentals increases the further you look from Central Campus. Apartments located a 10-minute drive or further from Central Campus seem to have rental rates averaging less than apartments near campus. For these reasons, we suggest that you consider commuting to your classes from home by bus, bicycle, or car.
Housing Information Office Resources
You will find helpful resource materials about off-campus housing in the lobby area of the Housing Information Office, including a guide booklet, a comprehensive map of campus and Ann Arbor which shows most apartment complexes in the area, co-op housing options, and bus schedules. There are also computer terminals available for students to access the Housing Web site, view housing and roommate/sublet listings, and post roommate/sublet ads. Additionally, most of these resources are available on this Web site.
If you would like to speak with the Off-Campus Housing Advisor about your housing search, please inquire at the front desk of the Housing Information Office or call (734) 763-3205.
Parking and Transportation
Parking at the U-M Ann Arbor campus is extremely limited. Parking Services strongly discourages students from bringing a vehicle to campus. Those who must bring a car should check the Parking and Transportation Services website for information.
To facilitate getting around without a car, there are two bus services students may use. The U-M Bus Service provides free transportation around Central Campus, North Campus, South (Athletic) Campus and the Medical Center Campus. It is extremely useful for those who travel between Campuses or park in a U-M commuter lot. Learn more about the routes and track where the buses are in real-time through the Magic Bus service.
In addition, the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) has nearly 30 bus routes throughout Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. Refer to AATA bus routes schedules online, also available at the Housing Information Office, Room 1011 in the Student Activities Building.
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
In July the followers one of the country’s largest art fairs descend upon Ann Arbor. Many tenants are surprised to find the extent that the Art Fair impacts their driveways, parking lots, and even their yards.
The 2012 Ann Arbor Art Fair will take place July 18 to July 21. If you live in or close to the downtown area, now is the time to find out the extent that you may be inconvenienced during the week of the Fair. First, check your lease to see if there is any mention of special arrangements to be made by the landlord for access to your apartment or parking your car. If there is no mention in your lease, contact your landlord and ask what provisions will be made, if any. Ask specifically if alternative parking will be available and what he/she recommends if you experience problems such as your parked car being blocked.
Whether or not your landlord recognizes special circumstances during Art Fair, you may still be affected by it. Crowds are much larger, and parking is limited. You may need extra time to get through town, so plan accordingly.
The streets will close at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20 for setup. If you believe access to your residence will be limited by the art fair street closings you can directly contact the fair. Fair hours are Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All is back to normal early Sunday morning.
For more information, visit the Art Fair website. There is also information online fromthe Ann Arbor Visitors Bureau with links to each of the four fairs' websites.
Some Ann Arbor natives stay out of town during the week of the Art Fair but you might not have this option. Hopefully, with a little planning, you’ll get out and enjoy the fun without any of the hassles.
Start Recycling If You Haven't Already
The City of Ann Arbor contracts with Recycle Ann Arbor to provide recycling collection and processing services. Ann Arbor is one of the few cities that use such a comprehensive recycling service and is tenth in the nation for recycling. And it’s easy to use. But best of all, while many places charge you to collect your recyclables, it’s free in Ann Arbor! So get with the program, think about your part in environmental sustainability, and sort your trash. It’s easy and becomes a habit before you know it.
Recycle Ann Arbor collects recyclables weekly at the curb from City of Ann Arbor residents (including off-campus housing students) in a single-stream collection system. Single-stream allows all recyclables to be placed into one recycling cart without separating papers from containers.
Everything, including cardboard, must fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Carts must be set out for service before 7:00 AM on collection day. Get the curbside recycling collection day schedule here.
What items are recyclable?
Recycle Ann Arbor accepts a wide array of recyclable items.
Plastics. Recycle Ann Arbor will accept #1, #2, #4, #5, #6, and #7 plastic bottles and tubs. You can find the number on the bottom of the item. Please wash and be sure to “pop that top” as lids to plastic containers are not recyclable. No motor oil bottles or other plastic (e.g., bags, Styrofoam, toys). Bulky plastics such as hampers and lawn furniture are also accepted.
Glass. Any color glass food and beverage bottles are accepted. Rinse out and remove lids. Metal lids are recyclable. Labels can remain attached.
Tin/steel cans, scrap metal, and aluminum. Steel food and beverage containers, pots, pans, metal trays, beverage cans, trays, pie plates, clean foil, and empty aerosol cans are accepted. Please rinse items. Labels are OK on cans. Loose metal lids from cans are recyclable.
Paper. Recycle newspaper, magazines, catalogues, glossy fillers or mailers, junk mail, any envelopes (including those with windows), wrapping paper, telephone books, paper bags, and freezer food boxes. Flattened boxes—corrugated cardboard (including pizza boxes) and boxboard (cereal boxes)—are also recyclable. Milk cartons and juice boxes are also recyclable; please rinse these items before recycling.
Find out the complete list of items accepted by Recycle Ann Arbor.
I live in a house. How do I recycle for curbside collection?
Store your recyclables in your home and then place them in your blue recycling cart(s) outside for weekly collection. Set them out on your weekly refuse collection day or less frequently (whenever your carts are full) since servicing partially-full carts reduces collection efficiency. Carts must be set out for service before 7:00 AM on collection day. Get the curbside recycling collection day schedule here. When you set out your carts on the curb, make sure they are three feet away from other carts, vehicles, mailboxes, trees, and posts. The carts also need 15 feet of overhead clearance.
I live in an apartment/co-op/multi-unit building. Where do I put my recyclables?
Place your prepared recyclables in the centrally-located storage bins for the complex. At large apartment complexes, the carts are usually located next to the trash dumpsters. Complexes with less than three units are required to bring their carts to the curb for service. Some complexes may have employees that bring your refuse and recycling bins to the curbside for you. Ask your landlord whether or not you have to bring your carts to the curb. Carts must be set out for service before 7:00 AM on collection day.
How do I get the recycling carts?
Recycle Ann Arbor distributes the recycling carts. Call (734) 662-6288 to have a cart delivered to your address. If you move, leave your bins behind. Another set of bins will await you at your new Ann Arbor address.
The City of Ann Arbor owns and distributes trash and compost carts, for more information call (734) 994-2807.
How can I get more information on recycling?
Visit the Recycle Ann Arbor website or call (734) 662-6288.
