Is the Oxford Downtown Development Authority interested in purchasing the James Lumber property for sale at 43 E. Burdick Street?
‘There’s been no official discussion or anything,? said DDA Chairman Kevin Stephison, who admitted there have been ‘rumbling(s)? from ‘some people? about it.
On Nov. 22, Doug Graham, Jr., part owner of the Flint-based James Lumber, called village Clerk/Assistant Manager Christine Burns to inquire as to the village’s interest in the property.
‘That would be an ideal fit to have the DDA buy it because then it could be made into whatever they wanted rather than us selling it to a machine shop or something that they don’t want in there,? said Graham, who noted that ‘no one from the DDA has contacted me.?
‘We’d like to be able to have some control over what goes there,? Stephison admitted, ‘but I don’t want it off the tax rolls for any length of time.?
Stephison said the possibility of buying the property came up too late ‘to even have mild discussion about it? at the last DDA board meeting in November.
‘I’m sure it will float back up on the radar again,? he said. ‘If it comes up, I’ll let you know.?
James Lumber is currently in the process of closing its Oxford location, purchased in May 1995, and selling the site for a reported $1.6 million.
‘That’s a sizeable chunk of cash,? Stephison said.
‘We’re open to talk to people. We haven’t listed (the property) with anyone,? Graham said. ‘We have asked $1.6 (million), but we are definitely talking with people and open to negotiation.?
Graham said the property was previously appraised at about $1.5 million.
‘We’re not trying to get rich off anybody, we just want to get what it’s worth cause we’ve got our bills to pay too,? he noted.
The site is approximately 3? acres in size and consists of four separate parcels extending from E. Burdick to East Street.
‘It’s a pretty good piece of property,? Stephison said.
A retail store, warehouse, lumber yard and parking lot occupy the land. There’s been a lumber yard at this location since the early 1900s.
Currently zoned General Business District (C-2), it has been proposed by the village to rezone the land as Central Business District (C-1).
Permitted principal uses under C-1 zoning include retail, service, office, department stores, specialty shops, financial institutions, restaurants and taverns.
Two local businessmen have contacted Graham about the property and are ‘contemplating making an offer, but have not yet.?
‘We’re going to end up listing it with a Realtor probably somewhere around Dec. 15, if we don’t get an offer here in the next week,? Graham said.
Anyone interested in the James Lumber Oxford location is welcome to call Graham at (810) 577-8773.
When asked if the issue could be discussed at the next DDA meeting Dec. 18, Stephison said, ‘I don’t think so,? but noted, ‘I haven’t set the agenda in stone yet.?
The DDA currently owns three vacant parcels along the south side of E. Burdick, which it has yet to sell.
Those properties were purchased by the DDA in 2002 for a total of $585,619.