Around Town

A campus-area apartment tower is proposed—not approved

MLive reports that RPM Living is seeking city approval to rezone nearly 1.5 acres near Geddes Avenue, Observatory Street and North University Court for a $120 million apartment project. The submitted concept calls for a thirteen-story building with 240 units near the University of Michigan campus.

Source: MLive, “Another 13-story high-rise planned next to University of Michigan campus,” October 2026.

This is a rezoning request and development proposal, not permission to build and not a housing option that is available today. Plans can change through staff review, public hearings and City Council action. Anyone evaluating a nearby home should track the city’s current planning record and separate the existing setting from a possible future construction period. On a visit, test the walking, transit, parking and event-day routes that matter to your own routine; a proposed unit count does not establish the future value, rent or traffic conditions of a specific property.

Toyota’s battery testing facility near Saline is open

Toyota has opened a $50 million, 30,000-square-foot battery research and testing facility at its York Township research-and-development campus east of Saline. WEMU’s Russ McNamara reports that it will serve as Toyota’s primary North American battery testing facility and be available to the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center. The larger campus employs about 2,000 people.

Source: Russ McNamara, WEMU, October 2, 2026. Company background: Toyota’s battery-lab announcement.

The opening is a completed employment and research milestone, but it does not by itself predict commute times or housing demand. A household connected to the campus should test the actual route at its working hours, including the Ann Arbor–Saline Road and US-23 connections relevant to the address being considered. The same caution applies to claims about home prices: use current comparable sales and property-specific facts rather than assuming a regional facility will produce a particular result.

A new vocational-training option at Briarwood

Legacy Barber College has opened at Briarwood Mall after operating for six years in Lenawee County. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert describes it as Washtenaw County’s first barber college and the first Black-owned barber college to open in the county. The school also works with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office on barber training at the county jail.

Source: Kevin Meerschaert, WEMU, October 2, 2026. Program information: Legacy Barber College.

For residents, this is both a training resource and another service at the mall. Prospective students should use the college’s own materials to confirm current programs, schedules, tuition, licensing preparation and enrollment requirements. People new to the area can also use a mall visit to test the practical side of a possible move—travel time, bus access and the location of other recurring errands—without treating any one amenity as evidence of neighborhood value.

Downtown business status: temporary closures, a planned farewell and a permit still pending

Tomukun Noodle Bar and Lab Cafe temporarily closed after an October 3 structure fire. The Michigan Daily reported smoke and water damage; Tomukun Korean BBQ, which was also affected, reopened the following day. Because recovery timelines can change, check the restaurants’ current updates before making a special trip.

Sources: The Michigan Daily, October 2026; Tomukun’s official site.

Separately, MLive reports that Afternoon Delight Café’s owner plans to close the Liberty Street restaurant on October 31 after forty-eight years, after not finding a buyer. That is a stated closing plan, not a completed closure as of this edition. Confirm service dates and hours directly before visiting.

Source: MLive, October 2026.

Purgatory Exchange, a secondhand-clothing store planned for downtown, was still awaiting its certificate of occupancy when the Observer reported on it. Owner Jessica French told Dave Algase that the store expected to begin with purchasing appointments before retail sales. Treat that as an opening plan, not an open storefront, until the business confirms otherwise.

Source: Dave Algase, “For Clothes That Deserve a Second Chance,” Ann Arbor Observer, October 2026.

These different statuses matter on a neighborhood scouting day: one temporary closure, one announced future closing and one not-yet-open business should not be collapsed into a single story about downtown. Verify today’s operating information with each business, then look at the broader mix of groceries, services, parks, transit and destinations that support your actual routines.

On the calendar: October 10–18, 2026

Organizer details checked October 10. Follow each organizer link before leaving for weather, availability or late changes. All times are Eastern.

Sunday: Trick or Treat on the River

The City of Ann Arbor lists Trick or Treat on the River for Sunday, October 11, noon–4 p.m., at Gallup Park. No preregistration is required. The city lists boat fees from $15 to $25, depending on the craft, and says all ages are welcome. Check the city update after 9 a.m. on event day if weather is uncertain.

Organizer: City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation.

Sunday: Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County schedules its Walk a Mile in My Shoes event for Sunday, October 11, 2–5 p.m., at Burns Park Elementary School, 1414 Wells Street. The event supports the organization’s refugee-resettlement work; registration and donation details are on the organizer page.

Organizer: Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County.

Through October 18: Come from Away

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance is presenting Come from Away at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Remaining performances listed by the school run October 10–18, with evening and matinee times depending on the date. The organizer lists standard tickets at $40, seniors at $34 and students at $16; availability may change.

Organizer: University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance 2026–27 season.

Events can be useful anchors for learning the area, but a housing decision deserves another visit at the time you would normally travel. Test the commute, parking or transit connection that fits your routine, and return to the original city, organizer or business page for any detail that could change.

This is a dated community edition. Reported plans, schedules, programs and business details may change. Linked publishers retain their reporting and images; some stories require a subscription. Practical home-search observations are our own and do not imply publisher endorsement.

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