Oxford residents, business and property owners and city officials and staff came together on April 28 to participate in a visioning session that will set the tone for development of the Imagine Oxford comprehensive plan. Jason Fondren, principal planner of KPS Group, facilitated the workshop engaging participants in discussions about the city's strengths, values and opportunities for the future.
To see what people said about Oxford today and what they imagine could be, check out the Visioning Summary.
What is missing in Oxford today compared to the Oxford you imagine 20 years or so from now? To add your voice to the discussion, use the Comments section below.
Oxford is the retail shopping base for over 250,000 people. When we have shopping developments, Oxford should require the developer to include more green landscaping like other economically strong retail districts require. Our land is relatively cheap, our development costs are relatively low, and the long-term value of such development planning will give huge returns for the city as well as the developers. We need more sidewalks, gutters, underground powerlines, trees, flowers, landscaping, and bike paths. In short, Oxford needs to become less of a strip mall town if it is to age well. We need to be a destination that people will enjoy hanging out in for years to come.
ReplyDeleteTo that end, it would also be nice if the historic mainstreet area could be revitalized as an entertainment district, along with associated redevelopment of the Oxford Mall. Consider mixed use development of the mall property, including some above story townhouses (even prospecrively seniors and assisted living development) to absorb some of the redevelopment costs. Move away from the strip mall image and create a vibrant entertainment destination in the heart of the city with compelling landscaping. Perhaps the Historic Main Street district could also have cobblestone streets restored. Bring back a sense of yesteryear.
Consider buying out the smaller, older, low end houses along Choccolocco and Snow Streets and do a planned redevelopment with 2nd story townhouses (with historic looking facades with railed balconies) and first story retail shopping. This will make the historic district more vibrant and more attractive to young couples. It will also create more foot traffic for entertainment venues in the historic district. Coordinate this redevelopment of the historic district together with the redevelopment of the Oxford Mall.
Turn Choccolocco one way driving west, and Snow Street one way driving east. This will accomplish multiple goals. 1.) It will resolve the dangerous "jig jog" intersection with US 431. 2.) It will actually increase traffic along down Main Street as everyone wanting to head south down Main will become traffic for the retail shopping fronts on both Choccolocco and on Main. Cats headinf North on Main already bypass Main St. With one way traffic, there would also be more room for wider landscaped sidewalks and better parking along both streets.
Have a regular trolley route from Main Street, down Snow St., over to the Lake, and ultimately over to the Oxford Commons, and the SportsPlex. Include a bike rack on the outside od the trolley. The redeveloped downtown Oxford Mall could also provide additional public parking for the Historic District as serviced by the trolley.
Could we once again have paddleboats and other nostalgic touches at Oxford Lake?
ReplyDeleteConsider adding a skateboarding park and bmx bike park to the available athletics facilities. These would compliment the nascent biking culture that is rapidly developing in our community. An aquatic center would be a big draw as well. Oxford would also benefit from an outdoor gym park for seniors; I would suggest somewhere downtown near the Senior Citizens Center.
Oxford needs an outdoor stage venue like they have in Gadsden for plays and concerts. A sculpture garden displaying regional artists' works for sale could make for a cultural improvement for the city. It could spill into the redeveloped Oxford Mall sidewalks and through the historic Main Street district. Also a Fine Arts Museum with traveling exhibitions would be amazing for the city, if we can achieve a sufficient level of traffic for such a venue considering the limitations of our regional demographics.
Oxford needs to plan now around the eventual expansion of the Appalachian Trail along the Pinhoti through Cheaha State Park. Oxford will need to compete favorably with Munford and Talladega as a prospective "Trail Town" destination. The AT will become a prospective HUGE new outdoor tourist draw to the area. A reserved shuttle service to the new zip lines at Cheaha, as well as to the Coldwater MTB trails, could prepare as an Oxford connector for the AT as well.
Sorry I missed giving input at the Visioning Meeting!
ReplyDeleteGWhittleAL Thanks, very thoughtful comments!
ReplyDelete