It’s been 10 months since its representatives met with the Oxford Township Planning Commission, but a Bingham Farms-based company is still planning to build a 360-unit multiple family residential development just north of the village.
‘We’re working on our plans (and) expect to have them submitted to the township within the next month or two for site plan approval,? said Charles DiMaggio, senior vice president of project development for Burton-Katzman. ‘That’s where we’re at right now.?
Burton-Katzman wants to build 240 apartments and 120 attached condominiums, according to DiMaggio, on a 56.38-acre property located east of M-24, south of Ray Rd., west of N. Oxford Rd. and north of the village.
The company had a pre-application conference with the planning commission last October. Since then, no plans have been submitted.
‘It’s just taking a little bit longer to develop our plans and to make sure that we’ve got our financing lined up,? DiMaggio said. ‘We’re in good shape now and getting our plans prepared.?
DiMaggio indicated the plan is build the development in two phases. Phase I would include 140 apartments and 42 condos, he said.
‘Our market study was quite positive (about) the apartment project. And we’re seeing home sales picking up, too,? he said. ‘I think we’ve got a real good market for both products.?
The first two phases of the development do not include a 13-acre piece that’s connected to N. Oxford Rd.
This is where Oxford Community Schools and the China-based Weiming Education Group were planning to build housing for more than 500 international students. Superintendent Dr. William Skilling had previously stated that Burton-Katzman was possibly going to donate the land and build the housing.
When asked where that plan is today, DiMaggio replied, ‘That’s still in the hands of the Chinese.?
‘We have not heard from them in a few months,? he said. ‘It’s in their court right now. We’re still planning on doing that. Whether or not it’s actually going to happen, I couldn’t tell you.?