Oxford Square May Get Hotel & Parking Garage

According to the Daily Journal, a private company may develop a six-story hotel and parking garage just off the Square. The hotel will include a spa, cooking school and lobby bar as well as an open-air atrium with a retractable roof. The garage will offer 176 places for public parking. Hotel to ease Oxford parking? 8/27/2005 12:08:55 AM

By Jennifer Farish
Daily Journal Oxford Bureau

OXFORD - A committee on Square parking has recommended a six-story hotel and parking garage to ease traffic problems in the popular area.


The city-appointed committee began the process with three proposals but quickly ruled out one. Earlier this month, a plan for a locally-owned hotel across from the Chancery Building also was withdrawn.


So, next week the committee will recommend that Craigside Leasing be allowed to lease the city parking lot behind City Hall for a luxury hotel and garage. Officials said the discussion will be held in executive session because it falls under the exemption for industry locations.


Parking on the public Square has been a growing problem for businesses and offices as the city's population has grown. In fact, parking is so tight that the committee has recommended aldermen continue to look at ways to add more parking even if the hotel project is approved.


The proposal calls for the first three stories of the structure to serve as public parking, with plans for hotel guests and employees to park off-site.


If that is enforced, the city will gain 176 parking places. However, the committee is concerned that the hotel's off-site parking policy may not work.


"While such a practice might work for the hotel employees, the committee believes that policing and enforcing this practice for hotel guests will be difficult," stated a report to aldermen.


The $25 million hotel will include 112 rooms, a spa, cooking school and lobby bar as well as an open-air atrium with a retractable roof. On the exterior, the development has a civic plaza.


The first two levels of the parking garage are expected to be turned over to the city within 220 days of of construction onset. The rest of the development is expected to be completed in a year and a half.


Mayor Richard Howorth has said the public will have an opportunity to voice opinions before final plans are approved.