The southeast parking quadrant in downtown Oxford will pick up an estimated 60 spaces this summer thanks to a deal between the Oxford Downtown Development Authority and the Mitchell Corporation.
Work began last week clearing the southern portions of the parcels known as 32, 36 and 38 East Burdick Street to make way for additional parking spaces.
On April 19, the Oxford-based Mitchell Corporation signed a deal with the Oxford DDA (which owns the land) whereby it agreed to move the three homes on the northern portions of the parcels along with clearing, grading and graveling the southern portions for expanded parking. The total price for the work is $17,400.
As part of the contract, the Mitchell Corp. was given the three homes, which it plans to move and sell.
According to Mitchell Corp. Contractor Jeff Gerds, one home has already been sold and plans are to move it near Baldwin and Oakwood roads. The company has until Dec. 31 to relocate all three houses, according to the contract. But Gerds hopes to do it much sooner to take advantage of the ‘good weather.?
Right now, the Mitchell Corp. is concentrating on clearing, grading and spreading gravel on the southern portions of the three parcels to make way for approximately 60 more parking spaces. The company has until July 1 to complete this work.
The Levy Corporation donated the gravel which will be spread behind the three houses.
Workers last week began dismantling the old wooden barn behind 38 East Burdick St. along with clearing out trees and fencing. A garage behind 36 East Burdick must also be removed.
The southern portions of the 36 and 38 East Burdick will be joined with the adjacent temporary gravel parking lot to the south, which currently has 20 spaces. The whole area will either be resurfaced with asphalt or left as gravel depending on finances. The southern portion of 32 East Burdick will be resurfaced with asphalt and connected with the main body of the southeast lot.
Construction work to improve the poor drainage in the southeast quadrant will also be done. Leaching basins behind the Oxford Barber Shop and the area behind Victoria’s Delights will be raised to prevent the accumulation of standing water in the lot.
The Oxford DDA expects to spend a total of $60,000 on the entire project.