Oxford Twp. is in the process of making it simpler and more efficient for developers and entrepreneurs to find available real estate in the northern Oakland County community.
“The one thing we don’t have a shortage of in Oxford is vacant land,” said Oxford Township Trustee Jack Curtis, chairman of the township’s Economic Development Subcommittee (EDSC). “It’s all just sitting there, waiting to become grocery stores, shopping centers, sports complexes, factories, you name it.”
Officials are currently searching for local real estate agents and brokers who are willing to compile a list of all commercial and industrial properties available in Oxford Township and Village.
This list would be posted at www.oxfordtownship.org in an Excel spreadsheet format on a rotating basis for periods lasting 30 days.
“One of the first things people who are looking to develop here do is visit our municipal website,” said EDSC member Todd Bell. “Between April and June, the township’s website had more than 69,000 visits. That’s a lot of traffic, a lot of exposure. We want to take advantage of that.”
The names of agents/brokers and their agencies, along with their telephone numbers and website links, would be posted with the list. The real estate professionals would create and maintain this list in exchange for free advertising. No other compensation would be provided.
This offer is available on a first-come/first-served basis to those real estate professionals who choose to participate.
If after the first 30-day period of posting no other real estate agents or brokers offer to take over this service, the current provider would update the list and continue to have their contact information advertised for another 30 days.
“This is a win-win for our local real estate people and the township,” said EDSC member Ed Hunwick. “If we want our community to grow and prosper, which we all do, we need to partner with the professionals who can use their considerable expertise to help make that happen.”
Curtis said this properties list would greatly aid the township in its on-going efforts to expand its tax base, add new water/sewer customers and provide more job opportunities for residents, particularly young people.
“It’s also a good way to help improve the quality of life for our residents by giving them more local opportunities to obtain the goods and services they need and want,” he explained.
“For instance, there’s no place in town to buy lumber and very few places to purchase quality clothing at affordable prices. We also could use another grocery store. Right now, we only have one store, so our residents aren’t benefiting from the lower prices they could be receiving if there was some good old-fashioned competition for shoppers.”