Plans are in the works to transform one of Oxford Village’s most prominent historic homes into a bed-and-breakfast.
Jeff Gerds, owner of the Oxford-based Mitchell Corporation, a licensed building company, is working out an agreement with the Oxford Downtown Development Authority to relocate the two-story, 4,300-square-foot house at 19 W. Burdick Street.
Built in the late 1800s, it was once home to Clarence E. Stanton, who was Oxford Bank’s cashier from 1884-1921 and director from 1900-21.
‘The major credit for the success of the bank . . . has always been given to Mr. Stanton,? wrote the Oxford Leader upon his death in July 1921.
Active in public affairs, Stanton also served as township treasurer in 1891 and as village president from 1900-03 and again from 1905-08.
The 19 W. Burdick Street home once occupied by Stanton later became an adult foster care facility and remained such until last year when it and the property it sits on was sold for $390,000 to the DDA to be used for parking and future commercial development.
Gerds, an Oxford resident born and raised, wishes to move the Stanton home to a parcel located at 55 E. Burdick Street, across from the Oxford Post Office, renovate it and operate it as a bed-and-breakfast.
Gerds said he has a purchase agreement with the owner of 55 E. Burdick Street.
Last week, he informed the DDA’s Economic Restructuring Committee of his plans for a bed-and-breakfast.
‘I think it’s perfect,? Gerds said. ‘There’s nothing in Oxford as far as hotels, motels, nothing, no place to stay.?
‘When I initially approached (some DDA members and village officials) with this idea a while back, it was received pretty well. The town was looking for something like that,? he noted.
Village Manager Joe Young is ‘very much? in favor of the idea.
‘We don’t have any lodging anywhere in the village,? he said. ‘This is a wonderful opportunity for people to be able to stay in town instead of having to go to Lapeer or Lake Orion. We’re very excited about that.?
‘I think it’s a great idea,? said DDA Executive Director Amanda Cassidy. ‘It’s perfect to have in a downtown, especially an historic downtown because it’s using an historic house.?
‘This would be the perfect quaint place to stay,? she said. Unlike a large hotel or chain, ‘it’s something that fits right in to the downtown atmosphere.?
The main obstacle to Gerds? plans appears to be a section of the village zoning ordinance which puts tight restrictions on bed-and-breakfasts.
Approved in November 1998, the ordinance states such a lodging facility must be ‘clearly incidental to the prinicipal residence on the site,? which must be a single-family home, and ‘not more than 25 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used for bed-and-breakfast sleeping rooms.?
‘The maximum number of rooms that may be rented at one time shall not exceed 3,? the ordinance states. The bed-and-breakfast must also be the ‘principal residence of the operator and the operator shall live in the dwelling unit when the bed-and-breakfast facility is in operation.?
‘It looks like this needs some reworking here? in order to be ‘more realistic,? said Manager Young, referring to the ordinance. ‘That’s probably why we don’t have any in town. It’s too restrictive.?
Any changes to the ordinance would require approval from the village council.
Gerds, who’s family has lived in Oxford since the early 1900s, said he and his fiancee, Beth Doyle, would run the bed-and-breakfast together.
‘It will be part of my retirement,? said the 20-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. ‘I’ve got seven years to go and I’m looking for things to do.?
‘We’ve been talking about this for quite some time,? Gerds explained. ‘We looked at one other house down in Orion as a possibility a while back. But that one didn’t pan out.?
Rather than having the DDA demolish 19 W. Burdick Street, Gerds saw the opportunity to restore ‘it back to the way it looked? and make the home useful again.
‘We’re going to try to keep it as traditional as possible, but make it comfortable as well,? he said.
‘Keeping it in tune with the era the house was built in? is very important to Gerds. ‘It looked so nice in its original condition?
‘It’s not going to be a Holiday Inn or anything like that,? he said. ‘It’s going to be a traditional bed-and-breakfast with a few modern conveniences.?
Only a moderate number of guests would be lodged at the B&B at any given time.
‘We’re hoping for seven (rooms), but for sure we’re going to have six,? Gerds said.
Although the proposed bed-and-breakfast would be located on E. Burdick Street, it would not have any street frontage.
Gerds said the current house at 55 E. Burdick Street would remain where it is, also be renovated and used as part of the bed-and-breakfast operation, possibly as offices.
The 19 W. Burdick Street home would be placed on the same parcel, which is ‘a little over an acre,? but along the back end of the property, according to Gerds.
‘The area’s hidden, but pretty big,? he said. ‘We’re going to set (the bed-and-breakfast) off the road a little ways. Keep things quiet. Do a lot of landscaping.?
Gerds said a bed-and-breakfast would be good for Oxford’s business community.
‘I’ve talked to a few business owners in the area that actually bring people to town and they’re looking for a place to put them up within Oxford,? he said. ‘The closest place right now is Lake Orion and then you have to go all the way to Lapeer otherwise.?
Gerds said local funeral homes would benefit from out-of-town family members being able to stay nearby for services.
Bed-and-breakfast guests would also provide new customers for local restaurants, the movie theater, etc.
‘Just about any business in the downtown area’s going to do well because it’s within walking distance,? Gerds said.
Gerds is requesting the DDA give him 12 months to move the house and set it up on the new property.
He estimated it will take ‘close to 24 months from start to finish? to get the bed-and-breakfast ‘up and running.?
states. The bed-and-breakfast must also be the ‘principal residence of the operator and the operator shall live in the dwelling unit when the bed and breakfast facility is in operation.?
‘It looks like this needs some reworking here? in order to be ‘more realistic,? said Young, referring to the ordinance. ‘That’s probably why we don’t have any in town. It’s too restrictive.?
Any changes to the ordinance would require approval from the village council.
Gerds, who’s family has lived in Oxford since the early 1900s, said he and his fiancee, Beth Doyle, would run the bed and breakfast together.
‘It will be part of my retirement,? said the 20-year veteran of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department. ‘I’ve got seven years to go and I’m looking for things to do.?
‘We’ve been talking about this for quite so me time,? Gerds explained. ‘We looked at one other house down in Orion as a possibility a while back. But that one didn’t pan out.?
Rather than having the DDA demolish 19 W. Burdick Street, Gerds saw the opportunity to restore ‘it back to the way it looked? and make the home useful again.
‘We’re going to try to keep it as traditional as possible, but make it comfortable as well,? he said.
‘Keeping it in tune with the era the house was built in? is very important to Gerds. ‘It looked so nice in its original condition?
‘It’s not going to be a Holiday Inn or anything like that,? he said. ‘It’s going to be a traditional bed and breakfast with a few modern conveniences.?
Only a moderate number of guests would be lodged at the B&B at any given time.
‘We’re hoping for seven (rooms), but for sure we’re going to have six,? Gerds said.
Althougth the proposed bed and breakfast would be located on E. Burdick Street, it would not have any street frontage.
Gerds said the current house at 55 E. Burdick Street would remain where it is, also be renovated and used as part of the bed and breakfast operation, possibly as offices.
The 19 W. Burdick Street home would be placed on the same parcel, which is ‘a little over an acre,? but along the back end of the property, according to Gerds.
‘The area’s hidden, but pretty big,? he said. ‘We’re going to set (the bed and breakfast) off the road a little ways. Keep things quiet. Do a lot of landscaping.?
Gerds said a bed-and-breakfast would be good for Oxford’s business community.
‘I’ve talked to a few business owners in the area that actually bring people to town and they’re looking for a place to put them up within Oxford,? he said. ‘The closest place right now is Lake Orion and then you have to go all the way to Lapeer otherwise.?
Gerds said local funeral homes would benefit from out-of-town family members being able to stay nearby for services.
Bed-and-breakfast guests would also provide new customers for local restaurants, the movie theater, etc.
‘Just about any business in the downtown area’s going to do well because it’s within walking distance,? Gerds said.
Gerds is requesting the DDA give him 12 months to move the house and set it up on the new property.
He estimated it will take ‘close to 24 months from start to finish? to get the bed and breakfast ‘up and running.?