I was driving back home tonight and something new caught my eye. About 1/4
mile west of the State street exit of I-94 on the south side of the
freeway is a big tall tower. I first saw it, way before I got to
the state street overpass. The tower looks to be about 6 to 10 feet
in diameter adn 40 to 50 foot tall. At the top of the main cylinder
is a plotform all the way around for workmen to stand on. From this
point a much thinner column continues up and ends in a long thin
crane arm. The arm was pointed straight up when I went past so the whole
think looked about 100 feet tall. (Probably not that tall, it was kinda
hard to judge from the car with no reference points nearby.)
Anybody know what this thing is? I suppose it could be the base for
a really fucking *hyge* bullboard, but I kinda doubt it.
(Err, I meant "huge billboard", but on second thought, "bullboard" seemed
more appropriate.)

51 responses total.

(Shouldn't this be in the tabloid conf?  ;-)

When I lived in Ann Arbor I kept running across things in the newspapers
and so forth that suggested that Ann Arbor is a Seattle wannabe (the 
coffeehouse scene, the music scene, the lively downtown, etc).  Maybe
now they're building a space needle too!

I know Greg's not making this up, because I can see it from the window
of my office. Maybe its related to the airport? (I'm just guessing)

I was thinking that it might be airport related too. It is either on
or near the Northwest corner of the airport's property. Maybe it's the
base for a new radar or VORTAC system.
(I stuck this in AA because it was alocal Ann Arbor thing, but not alot
of people read AA. Could someone link this to agora? Thanks)

Boy am I glad you posted this, I thought I was seeing things. I don't have
a clue as to what it is though.

Hmm.  I drive by that area at least 10 times a week, and didn't
notice it.  I'll have to remember to watch for it.

I saw it today, on the wy to the Airport to pick up yagi, and it is indeed
weird.

I think it may be a water tower.

So maybe Ann Arbor is an Ypsilanti wannabe rather than a Seattle wannabe.

Hmmm, one of those "mushroom" water towers? Long thin stem with a big bulb
on top? Could be. The stem is definately big and sturdy enough.

Yes, and the flare at the top of the column looks like the beginning
of the bulb. The central tower would let them lift the panels that
form the bulb, for welding. If this is correct, we will have to watch
carefully how the extract the tower and close the bulb.

I don't know what they are, but you can find these towers all over the
place, along 23, etc.  I don't think there will be any more construction
on this tower, since it's been as it is now for probably over a year.

        Pattie

Maybe it's a big radar gun, since the spy planes have gotten too easy to spot.

There's no way that tower has been along I-94 for "over a year". I drive
that section of I-94 regularly. I would have seen it long before now.

That tower was constructed in the last month. I can see it out my window.
It rather dominates things. I would never have missed it.

I'm talking about the red and white striped tower right near the 
intersection of Platt and Ellsworth, where Ellsworth jogs over I-94.
That tower has been there for quite some time now.

        Pattie

Pattie, I am continually frustrated by a high degree of what I call
"fuzzy thinking" when I am trying to communicate with people. Way too
many people use it, and you just illistrated a prime example.

Consider:
1.) I was *speciffically* talking about a tower on the south side of I-94
    just west of State street. I was *very* specific in my original message
    about the location and description of this tower.
2.) You then stated in response #12:
    "I don't know what they are, but you can find these towers all over the
     place, along 23, etc.  I don't think there will be any more construction
     on this tower, since it's been as it is now for probably over a year."
3.) You will note in the above quote, that all you said was "on this tower".
    Myself, and anyone else following this discussion, would have to conclude
    that what *you* meant by "this tower" was the same one that myself, and
    everyone else here, had been discussing.
4.) However, on closer examination, I would have to guess that you actually
    have NOT seen the tower I was discussing along I-94. I would guess that
    you have seen a bunch of *other* towers and just *assumed* that they,
    and the one I was talking about, were one and the same. These kinds
    of assumptions are what lead to bad communnication.
5.) And finnally, in response #16, you confusingly state:
    "I'm talking about the red and white striped tower right near the
     intersection of Platt and Ellsworth, where Ellsworth jogs over I-94.
     That tower has been there for quite some time now."
6.) HUH?!? So when did the tower on Platt & Ellsworth enter the discussion?
    This illistrates what I call the: "Well, why wern't you reading my
    mind? Damnit!" school of conversational theory. In this mode of
    conversation, one or both parties goes off and continues part of the
    discussion or line of rationalization in their heads , but doesn't
    actually *say* anything. After a suitable interval, they again begin
    verbalizing again and just somehow assume this information has made it's
    way into the other person's head. Ussually, a fight will insue. :-)

Sorry to get off the subject, but this is kind of a hot button subject
with me, the medium in which we communicate here tends to aggravate the
problem, and a perfect example appeared here and I wanted to use it.
Maybe this should be linked to languages or something.

        Greg, you just spent a lot of time and bandwidth critiquing
an innocent mistake.  Sure, it pushed your buttons. But a simple
request to someone to check the original entry when they respond
would have sufficed.  The progressive and drifting nature of these
conferences makes this sort of situation almost inevitable.  Perhaps
you could save the severe scoldings for people who are malicious
instead of absent-minded. My .02.

Again, what color was the antenna? ;-)

Duh. It was dark out.

TOWNSHIP BUILDING ITS 1ST WATER TOWER
(RWOP from today's Ann Arbor News)
        Crews have been working for the past month and a half to construct
Pittsfield Township's first water storage tower, located just south of
Briarwoond  Mall off I-94 and State Street.
        The tank, sitting on 1 1/2 acres, will store about 750,000 gallons
of water and stand 155 feet tall, says Greg Elliot, director of community
development and utilities for Pittsfield.
        Construction should be finished with the $1.3 million structure
sometime during the fall, says Elliott.
        Township officials say the tower will improve water pressure to
homes and businesses.  In the past, there have been problems with weak
water pressure during times of high usage or when there are mechanical
problems or power failures.  During periods of high demand water pressure
slows.  But with a tower water is pumped high into the air and gravity
increases pressure, says Elliot.  The tower will allow for a nice even
steady water pressure and a good water supply, he says.
        Overall, Pittsfield Township provides water to about 3,000
customers, and the tower will serve about half of them, according to
Elliott, who added that plans for a water tower have been ready since 1987.

Yea!!  The Answer!  I'm disappointed it wasn't the martians colonizing
or something.

It is.  The "water tower" story is just a ruse.

OK, everyone: pay up.

SCG to the rescue! :)

        Pattie

John's right. It's actually a staging area for aquaous beings from Europa.

This response has been erased.

Maybe, if Pittsfield is as creative as some of our other surrounding
townships, it would say something like "Welcome to Pittsfield Township, a
zoned community."

re #27:  The zoo sign now reads "Dennis Archer, Mayor."
 :-)

I wish to announce that the water tower which is the subject of this
item is one of the ugliest-looking structures in sixteen counties.

Re #29: is that sign on a cage, or are they using a moat?

Re #30:
Well, it hasn't been painted yet and all the seams are showing. It'll probably
look better after it's been painted and all the construction platforms have
been removed.

This response has been erased.

Now that it's all painted, what do people think?

It is now somewhat less ugly.

but not particularly imaginative

Oh, this is the Pittsfield water tower item.  For a moment I
thought people were talking about the dungeon...

Yeah, the painting is an improvement.  I can now drive past it on
I-94 without becoming acutely nauseous.

Hey, it's a *water tower*  folks, not the effiel tower. Function precedes
appearances in this case. And rememeber all the *ugly* water towers that
dotted the Pittsburgh area landscape where I grew up, I'd have to say
that this ais a reasonably attractive one at that. Nice clean, smooth,
aerodynamic shape.

But for unique shapes, the Ypsilanti water tower still has everything
else beat.

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