It looks like another downtown Oxford parking lot will be getting a face-lift this year.
Last week, the village council voted 5-0 to have the Pontiac-based Nowak and Fraus Engineers redesign the layout of the southwest parking and create a bid document listing what needs to be done for an amount not to exceed $2,000.
‘I think it’s really kind of nice that we can get some engineering done in a parking lot for only $2,000,? said village President Chris Bishop.
By removing existing dumpster enclosures then constructing and grouping new ones together, removing existing curb islands, restriping the entire lot and incorporating the rear portion of the 20 Hudson St. property owned by developer Dave Weckle, the village believes it can increase the number of spaces from 102 to 140.
‘The parking lot’s very inefficient as it is (laid out) right now,? Bishop said.
A preliminary estimate provided by Novak Construction, the Almont-based company that recently reconstructed the southeast lot, indicated the southwest lot could be reconfigured and seal coated for $89,859.
‘It may be much cheaper when we send it out for bid,? Bishop noted. ‘Most of the work is basically seal coating.?
Even if the bid price comes back around $89,859, that’s still a good deal, according to officials. Considering the current and potential parking use in the southwest lot, Bishop said, ‘Thirty-eight spots for that amount of money is quite significant.?
‘Even if you look at that number right there, it’s $2,000 a spot, which is pretty inexpensive,? said DDA Chairman Mark Young.
Bishop said he and Young spoke with some business and property owners in the southwest quadrant and ‘they indicated a willingness to help pay for this.?
‘Everybody acknowledges that there’s been at least some issues,? he said.
The village must still negotiate an agreement with Weckle to secure the rear (eastern) portion of his 0.34-acre property at 20 Hudson St., which could provide an additional five or six parking spaces in the southwest lot.
Weckle has site plan approval to build a one-story, 408-square-foot garage on his property to go with the existing two-story house he renovated and is leasing to the law office of Phillip B. Maxwell and Associates.