Imagine being able to purchase vacant property in downtown Oxford that’s immediately ready to build on because the site plan’s already done and approved.
The Downtown Development Authority is currently in the process of making this developer’s dream a reality.
Last week, the DDA board accepted a site plan created for the three parcels it’s owned along E. Burdick Street since 2002 and has been trying to sell for $100,000 each.
The plan, created by the Lake Orion-based Steve Auger + Associates Architects, Inc., calls for constructing three 3-story buildings, one on each parcel. Each building would use its first and second floors for retail and office space, setting aside the third floor for loft apartments.
‘It’s pretty exciting to see, to be honest with you,? said DDA Chairman Mark Young. ‘We’re showing them the maximum usage (for those lots). Instead of just seeing dirt, we’re giving them something to look at.?
According to the plan, the 0.13-acre parcel, west of Mill St., would have a 7,761-square-foot building on it. The adjacent 0.09-acre and 0.13 acre parcels east of Mill St. would have buildings with square-footages of 6,735 and 7,854, respectively.
A commons area shown on the plan between the two buildings east of Mill St. makes the plan more inviting to pedestrians in Young’s opinion. He said there’s room there for some greenery and benches.
Once some elevation drawings are done, the DDA intends to get the site plan approved by the village planning commission, then ‘shop it around? to potential developers.
‘We’re doing what a DDA should be doing and that is marketing the properties we have,? Young explained.
The idea is to make things as simple as possible for a potential developer.
‘We’re basically doing the legwork that needs to be done ahead of time with the planning commission, so that the developer can come in and say ‘I like it, here’s a check, I’ll go get my (building) permit? and up and away it goes,? Young said. ‘It takes all the guess work out of it for the developer. It just makes it so much easier for them.?
Young made it clear the DDA isn’t saying it will only sell to a developer who agrees to follow the site plan to the letter. But at the same time, the board’s not going to completely abdicate its opportunity to help determine what’s built there.
‘Is it written in stone they have to build that? No. But it’s also not written in stone that we have to sell it to them,? he said. ‘This way we maintain a little bit of control on what goes in there.?
When asked if the DDA wants a single developer to purchase all three parcels or if the lots can be bought individually by different parties, Young replied, ‘That’s something the board hasn’t absolutely determined.?
He said he could see someone purchasing the single lot west of Mill St., but as for the two adjoining lots to the east, ‘it doesn’t make sense? to buy and build on just one.
But again, anything’s possible at this point. ‘I would assume that it could be done,? Young said. ‘If somebody came up and said ‘I’ll take it,? then we’d probably take the money.?
low the site plan exactly. But at the same time, the board’s not going to completely abdicate its opportunity to help determine what’s built there.
‘Is it written in stone they have to build that? No. But it’s also not written in stone that we have to sell it to them,? he said. ‘This way we maintain a little bit of control on what goes in there.?
When asked if the DDA wants a single developer to purchase all three parcels or if the lots can be bought individually by different parties, Young replied, ‘That’s something the board hasn’t absolutely determined.?
He said he could see someone purchasing the single lot west of Mill St., but as for the two adjoining lots to the east, ‘it doesn’t make sense? to buy and build on just one.
But again, anything’s possible at this point.
‘I would assume that it could be done,? Young said. ‘If somebody came up and said ‘I’ll take it,? then we’d probably take the money.?