A step toward potentially selling the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center was taken by the township board last week.
Officials voted 7-0 to ‘consider the sale? of the 28 N. Washington St. building, commonly known as the Vets Hall, and the parking lot behind it ‘through a local licensed commercial real estate agent.?
As part of the approved motion, it was stated that ‘any and all proceeds? from the sale of the building would be ‘set aside? for the construction of a new community center, while proceeds from the parking lot sale would go into the township’s general fund.
Treasurer Joe Ferrari and Clerk Curtis Wright are planning to meet with local real estate brokers, then pick one to determine a list price and potentially contract with them to offer the property for sale.
The issue would then come back to the township board to decide whether the list price and contract are acceptable.
Located on an 8,282-square-foot site in downtown Oxford, the 5,318-square-foot, two-story building was constructed in 1952. The township purchased the Vets Hall in November 1980 for $48,000. A recent appraisal valued it at $516,000.
A deed restriction requires that if the Vets Hall is ever sold, the proceeds must be used for the development of a community center.
Behind the building is a 23,526-square-foot (0.54 acre) parking lot, which the township also owns. It contains 43 spaces. A recent appraisal valued the lot at $56,000.
Although they didn’t specifically vote on it, officials basically rejected local developer Chuck Schneider’s request to be ‘granted the exclusive right to negotiate with the township for (the) purchase? of both properties.
‘I’m not in favor of (giving) exclusive rights (to) anyone to purchase this property,? said township Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘I believe that it should go out for the public to bid on . . . We work out in the public and I think we’re going to do business that way.?
Schneider wants to purchase the Vets Hall and parking lot in order to use these parcels for potential development purposes in conjunction with surrounding properties he already owns in that area.
‘My interest in this property is to help this community increase (its) tax base by doing some development,? he told the board. ‘I have zero interest in buying this building as a building.?
Schneider owns the commercial building next door to the Vets Hall on the north side. That building contains Lulu’s Fish Market, ‘Wiches, Harmon Glass and the Villa de Goochi salon.
He also owns two of the four pieces of property along East St. located directly east of the parking lot behind the Vets Hall.
If he was to purchase the Vets Hall and the parking lot, Schneider told the board he would own that whole area, ‘except for two small pieces,? and the contiguous nature of his properties would make their development possible.
‘This community has, tops, five pieces of property in the whole Village of Oxford that have any development potential at all,? he said. ‘This would be number six.?
‘I’ve bought and sold 72 pieces of property. I know what I’m talking about,? Schneider noted.
He told township officials if they decide to sell the Vets Hall and the parking lot to ‘someone else, then it’s not going to get developed? and ‘it’s going to (continue to) be what it is? now.
‘If we’re just going to sell the building, this town’s going nowhere,? Schneider said.
Despite Schneider’s proposal, township officials decided listing the property with a real estate agent was the best way to go.
However, it was noted that if Oxford Village is interested in purchasing the parking lot, officials would refrain from listing it on the market and negotiate with the municipality.
The lot is currently used as free public parking for all the various businesses located in downtown’s northeast quadrant.
That’s why Dunn’s preference is for the village to buy it.
‘I think it should stay public parking,? he said.
Ferrari and Trustee Bellairs agreed the village should be offered first crack at it.
The village council was expected to discuss the issue at its Tuesday, Oct. 14 meeting.
Oxford resident Margie Payne asked township officials to consider retaining ownership of the lot ‘for the greater good of the community? if the village decides against purchasing it.
‘I think that it would be better in the hands of government than in the hands of a private (party),? she said. ‘This should all be public parking as far as I’m concerned.?
Dunn reiterated that if the Vets Hall is sold, the township will have to come up with a new gathering place for the senior citizens who meet there daily for social activities such as dancing, bingo, cards and lunch.
‘We can’t forget about the seniors that are using this facility,? the supervisor said. ‘Whoever buys this piece of property, we have to insist that they keep the seniors here until we find a place for them.?
‘We can’t just sell the building one day and kick out the seniors (the next day),? Dunn noted. ‘They’ve got to be taken care of until we find an appropriate place.?
Dunn said there’s still potential to build a 2,000-to-3,000-square-foot, single-story senior center on the township hall site located at 300 Dunlap Rd.
‘We have the property,? he said. ‘I think we’ll have the means to be able to set up something there if we have to.?
The township was originally looking at doing that until, according to Dunn, Parks/Rec. Director Ron Davis asked officials to hold off because his department was planning to put a community center proposal on the August 2014 ballot.
Voters defeated the $20 million community center bond proposal 2,432 to 1,544.
Township officials are looking to sell the Vets Hall because once construction of a 4,700-square-foot addition to the township hall is complete, the municipality will no longer need the building.
Currently, the township conducts all of its various public board meetings on the second floor of the Vets Hall.
Those meetings will be moved to the township hall because part of the addition is a 2,300-square-foot meeting room capable of accommodating an audience of 100.