Okay. It turns out that the City of Ypsilanti owns all of the parcels for the Water Street Project. Should the Supreme Court rule against the City of New London this summer, our City is in the clear. I apologize for this error, but if you want to blame anyone, blame my incompetent sources.

One of my reliable sources suggested bringing IKEA to the Water Street area. Even though IKEA is known to be a difficult resident, the idea is sheer genius! With IKEA trashing their ideas for a Canton store, this would be the perfect opportunity for our City Council to swoop in and beg IKEA to come to Ypsi. There would be some people bitching about bringing a giant chain store / big box retailer to the area, but think of the benefits. 300 new, local jobs (to off-set Visteon leaving). One million dollars a year in property tax revenue. Two million visitors a year to our fair city spending their cash at The Sidetrack, Dalat, or Roy’s Squeeze Inn.

It’s brilliant. If anyone sees IKEA’s director of public affairs Joseph Roth, tell him I need to talk to him. And it’s urgent. I think this has so much potential, I’m going to buy 12 and 14 North River tonight. Well, then I might be subject to the Vacant Buildings Ordinance, so maybe it’s not such a great idea. Regardless, I think it’s settled. Tonight I’m having a Roy’s Squeezeburger with cheese.