Last year, Oxford Companies drew attention for the early momentum behind Arbor South, a transformational mixed-use development that aims to redefine the southern gateway to downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Today, the vision of that project is moving forward with continued community involvement and support, clearer goals and a stronger emphasis on affordable housing and sustainability at every stage.
The project is located at the intersection of Eisenhower Parkway and South State Street in Ann Arbor, adjacent to Interstate-94. Currently, in addition to the 500,000 square feet of almost fully occupied Class-A office space located at the site, Arbor South’s plan includes the construction of approximately 800 market-rate apartments, 200 affordable apartments, 30 for-sale condominiums, a 150- to 200-key full-service hotel, 100,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, 15,000 square feet of dining/entertainment space and parking structures to support the development.
Since the project’s initial announcement in January 2024, Arbor South has progressed through key entitlement and planning phases. The basic financial structure of the proposed public-private partnership with the city has remained consistent over the past 20 months.
Plans for Arbor South previously estimated a private investment cost of $469 million, with a significant portion of the public participation allocated to long-overdue infrastructure upgrades to benefit not only Arbor South, but the broader Ann Arbor community and surrounding neighborhoods.
Another key highlight is the project’s partnership with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission, which will oversee more than 200 affordable housing units to ensure lasting affordability and support the city’s broader housing strategy.
Environmental sustainability has been a core principle since the project’s inception. From the start, it was envisioned as a walkable, transit-connected district that prioritizes green building practices, renewable energy integration and landscape restoration with direct access to AAATA bus service, bike infrastructure and public gathering spaces.
“We are deeply appreciative of the community members, city staff, and elected leaders who have leaned into the conversation with thoughtful questions, ideas, and concerns,” says Jeff Hauptman, CEO of Oxford Companies. “It has truly made the project better.”
As the project enters its next chapter, all parties involved remain focused on the shared goal of creating a welcoming, sustainable and inclusive neighborhood that reflects the best of Ann Arbor’s values. Arbor South isn’t a reinvention, but a natural extension of the city’s energy and creativity–a walkable, green and connected place that feels seamlessly part of the community from day one.
The project team unites Ann Arbor-based Oxford Companies, an established vertically integrated real estate investment firm that now manages and leases more than 2.6 million square feet in the greater Ann Arbor area, with Dublin, Ohio-based Crawford Hoying, experts in mixed-use real estate development with more than $3.5 billion in completed and active developments.
Lord Aeck Sargent, a Detroit-based, award-winning architectural and design firm, provides an authentic approach to architecture alongside Ann Arbor-based Midwestern Consulting, which is offering expertise in civil engineering for the project.
“Arbor South will embody the things that make our community proud, turning parking lots into housing and creating a walkable community,” added Hauptman. “The goal is to address many of the challenges our community has asked developers to solve for years, including better housing options, a pedestrian-friendly, healthy environment and a thoughtfully curated use of space, and we are excited for what the future holds.”
