Talk about getting to know your neighbor.

A site plan has been submitted for a proposed two-story community bath in the 300 block of North Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

Known as Sun Baths, the 12,000-square-foot facility would be built on the properties of 319 and 323 N. Main where two houses have been deconstructed. Some of the materials from the house will be reincorporated into the building or salvaged for use on another project.

The development is proposed by Moving on Main owner Peter Woolf, who bought the properties for just under $750,000 over the last two years, according to city records.

The cost of the project is estimated to be $3.5 million and construction of the building is expected to be finished in early 2017.

The concept for the bath house as explained in the site plan is to be a place of relaxation for people in the community.

"Breaking with the current trend is spas, our goal is to help humanity to invent new ways to heal ourselves, connect with each other and improve our environment in a sustainable way," the plan reads.

Because "people of all backgrounds are drawn to water," the developer expects the facility to be a place where people come to relax and get away from their stresses.

"In thousands of years of human culture, baths have acted as a site of community integration," the plan reads. "People are happier, healthier, more productive and more creative when they are relaxed."

The developer is aiming to make the building a Net Zero Energy Building and the project's LEED-certification goal is platinum. The plan is for 100 percent of the building's energy needs to be met through on-site renewable energy. Energy for the building will be provided by rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panels.

A mixture of common bath areas, saunas and private bath spaces will be built. Common areas will accommodate 50 bathers while the private rooms can serve between one and six people.

Plans were originally submitted for the site last year that proposed a studio and events space to be built. Plans called for a movement studio on the first floor that would be home to movement arts classes such as martial arts, somatic movement, circus arts and yoga; public performance, film, wedding and other receptions for up to 300 people in the movement studios.

They also mentioned a second floor area for massage, acupuncture and other wellness practices in their spaces along with sauna and Japanese bath services. However, those plans never got past the design phase.

The Planning Commission has not yet set a date for when the plans will be discussed.

Matt Durr is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Email him at mattdurr@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.