Plans to sell the old Oxford Township hall aren’t going very well.
Last week, the township board reviewed a $200,000 offer from the village to purchase its vacant portion of the municipal complex at 18 W. Burdick Street.
‘Tell you the truth, I’m not real happy with a $200,000 offer,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘We have a fiduciary responsibility to the township and the village residents to get the best price that we can. I think that’s just low-balling. I would like to see a happy medium.?
The village’s offer was the one and only bid the township received.
‘Property’s only worth what people are willing to pay for it,? said village President George Del Vigna, who attended the township meeting. ‘If you’ve got no other bids, then that’s what it’s worth.?
An appraisal commissioned by the village and conducted by the Birmingham-based Holmes & Layton, Inc. determined the market value of the township property to be $325,000 as of January 23.
Township officials disagreed with Del Vigna’s assessment of things.
‘I am not going to give township property away,? Dunn said.
‘You can buy a home in the Village of Oxford or the township of Oxford for $200,000,? said Trustee Pat Fitchena. ‘This is a commercial piece of property. This is a beautiful piece of property and you’re absolutely right in not wanting to give it away.?
In a 5-2 vote, township officials approved submitting a counteroffer price of $262,500 to the village.
‘We’re not going to counteroffer, that’s our bid, that’s our offer, $200,000,? said Del Vigna. ‘The roof has to be redone. Some other repairs have to be done.?
He told officials the estimated cost of the needed repairs was ‘at least $50,000.?
‘The village council said that’s our final offer,? Del Vigna reiterated.
‘This is our motion,? Dunn retorted. ‘You can take it back to the village council and they can reply.?
Treasurer Joe Ferrari, who voted against the counteroffer because he felt it was ‘too low,? applauded the village for their efforts to secure ownership of all the buildings that make up the municipal complex.
‘I think it’s a great strategy on their part,? he said. ‘You’ve got that whole chunk. That’s prime for redevelopment.?
The municipal property’s currently zoning is RM-2 (multiple family) and future village plans show the property being developed into townhouses someday.
‘I think it’s a great strategy on their part,? Ferrari said. ‘I commend them. That’s a fantastic thing to do.?
‘If they could get that from us for $200,000, that would be a coup. I just don’t think it’d be good for our taxpayers.?