The Michigan Daily sat down with Joe Giant, Ann Arbor’s new director of economic development to discuss housing affordability, the city’s development priorities and economic relationship with the University of Michigan. Giant began the position March 17 after previously working as the community development administrator for the Redevelopment Department of Fort Wayne, Ind. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
The Michigan Daily: What drew you to Ann Arbor?
Joe Giant: When you’re studying city planning, you’re learning about all these cities that are doing it right with progressive, best practices, and Ann Arbor is always on those lists: number one quality of life, best place to raise family, most educated. So we just drove up. It was the middle of March, the longest, most disappointing month. But there were so many people out: people running, walking, eating outside, drinking coffee outside, just being active, being so vibrant. And it just had this energy that I had just never experienced anywhere that I had been, especially in making the most of an otherwise disappointing season…