Asking prices for the Oxford Veterans Memorial Civic Center and the parking lot behind it are expected to be approved at the township board’s Dec. 10 meeting.
Between now and then, Clerk Curtis Wright and Treasurer Joe Ferrari are meeting with representatives from Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty to determine the properties? fair market value.
Coldwell Banker Shooltz Realty was recently selected by the township board to market and sell the property.
Located on an 8,252-square-foot site in downtown Oxford, the 5,318-square-foot, two-story building, commonly known as the Vets Hall, was constructed in 1952. The township purchased it in November 1980 for $48,000. A recent appraisal valued it at $516,000.
Behind the building is a 23,526-square-foot (0.52 acre) parking lot, which the township also owns. It contains 43 spaces. A recent appraisal valued the lot at $56,000.
Village officials expressed an interest in controlling the parking lot given it currently provides free public parking for businesses located in the northeast quadrant.
The village proposed leasing the property from the township for 99 years for the sum of $1 per year. As part of the proposed lease, the village would assume all the liability and maintenance responsibilities such as snow removal, salting, sweeping, pothole repair, storm sewer repairs, landscaping, etc.
That offer didn’t set well with township officials.
‘I have a tough time with that,? Ferrari said. ‘I don’t want max dollar, but we’ve got to remember, too, this is a township asset. This is something that we have to protect.?
He felt accepting the village’s lease offer would be doing a ‘disservice to the township taxpayers by giving away an asset.?
Ideally, Ferrari would like to sell the parking lot to the village, but he wants to receive ‘a little bit more of a fair offer.?
‘I think it should be their property,? he noted.
Dunn, who lives in the village and serves on the Downtown Development Authority board, doesn’t want to see the parking lot fall into private hands. He believes it should remain property that’s owned and used by the public.
‘I think either the township or the village should have control of that parking lot,? he said.
However, should the lot ever be sold to a private party, Dunn noted the village would still have control over how it’s used because the property is zoned for parking. To build anything on it or use it for any other purpose would require a zoning change approved by the village.
Any proceeds from the sale of the parking lot would go into the township’s general fund.
However, any proceeds from the Vets Hall sale must be used for the development of a community center based on a deed restriction.
Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis proposed using the money to transform the current maintenance barn at Seymour Lake Township Park into a facility that houses offices for his department, a multipurpose community room, restrooms and a dedicated senior area that’s open all day.
This setting would be much more beneficial, in Davis? opinion, for the senior citizens who currently gather at the Vets Hall on a daily basis for social activities such as dancing, bingo, cards and lunch.
Being at the park would give seniors convenient access to physical activities such as disc golf, pickleball, sand volleyball and softball, according to Davis.
‘The seniors of today are not what they were 20 years ago,? he said. ‘They’re more active and they want to get outside and do stuff.?