Spring Break
Council raises new Nov. issue
Sarah Foster
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Community
The city of Oxford has placed an initiative on the November's election ballot that could change the current restriction on apartments and businesses located in the uptown area.
Known as the "three dwelling unit restriction," the current charter reads that structures containing more than three dwelling, or residential, units as defined by the Oxford Housing Code are prohibited within the historic Mile Square.
The Mile Square encompasses a square area between Chestnut Street, Sycamore Street, Patterson Avenue, and Locust Street.
The Charter Review committee began meeting in May 2007 to address the charter, and the amendment, if passed, would modify the current charter-allowing uptown businesses and property owners to split their property into more than three spaces.
The proposed amendment will only affect the uptown business district, which is a rectangular parameter, located between Walnut and Church streets.
Alan Kyger, city council member and supporter of the initiative, said he believes this amendment would benefit the uptown district in two ways.
Kyger explained it would promote rebuilding older, run-down property and allow larger commercial space to survive in the uptown business district. With more flexibility in dividing space, property owners could design the best floor plans for the demand.
"This amendment would let the commercial space be created for what the demand is," Kyger said.
Kyger said he believes if this amendment is passed, there would be more of an incentive for both commercial and residential business to come into the area than what the charter currently allows.
"This amendment will benefit property owners because they can build and rebuild at their own discretion," Kyger said. "Community members and students will see that uptown buildings could get a facelift."
According to Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana, the Oxford zoning code currently states that residential buildings in the uptown district may not contain dwelling units on the ground level. Dana said dwelling units in any building within the uptown district can only exist on the second floor and above. For example, apartments could not be built in the former ground-level location of Hemptations on High Street. This portion of the code was established to preserve businesses in the uptown area. If the Oxford Charter is amended to remove the "three dwelling unit" restriction, residential buildings on the ground level would remain forbidden, according to Dana.
Known as the "three dwelling unit restriction," the current charter reads that structures containing more than three dwelling, or residential, units as defined by the Oxford Housing Code are prohibited within the historic Mile Square.
The Mile Square encompasses a square area between Chestnut Street, Sycamore Street, Patterson Avenue, and Locust Street.
The Charter Review committee began meeting in May 2007 to address the charter, and the amendment, if passed, would modify the current charter-allowing uptown businesses and property owners to split their property into more than three spaces.
The proposed amendment will only affect the uptown business district, which is a rectangular parameter, located between Walnut and Church streets.
Alan Kyger, city council member and supporter of the initiative, said he believes this amendment would benefit the uptown district in two ways.
Kyger explained it would promote rebuilding older, run-down property and allow larger commercial space to survive in the uptown business district. With more flexibility in dividing space, property owners could design the best floor plans for the demand.
"This amendment would let the commercial space be created for what the demand is," Kyger said.
Kyger said he believes if this amendment is passed, there would be more of an incentive for both commercial and residential business to come into the area than what the charter currently allows.
"This amendment will benefit property owners because they can build and rebuild at their own discretion," Kyger said. "Community members and students will see that uptown buildings could get a facelift."
According to Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana, the Oxford zoning code currently states that residential buildings in the uptown district may not contain dwelling units on the ground level. Dana said dwelling units in any building within the uptown district can only exist on the second floor and above. For example, apartments could not be built in the former ground-level location of Hemptations on High Street. This portion of the code was established to preserve businesses in the uptown area. If the Oxford Charter is amended to remove the "three dwelling unit" restriction, residential buildings on the ground level would remain forbidden, according to Dana.
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