New Parking Garage Proposed For Oxford

The lower parking lot behind City Hall is one of two sites  under consideration for the proposed new city parking garage. / Photo By Hillary Houston

The city of Oxford is looking into two possible sites for a new parking garage, according to Oxford City Manager Tim Akers.

“The city has hired a consulting firm to look at possible sites for a parking garage,” Akers said on Wednesday. “The sites are the city parking lot behind city hall and the city parking lot off Jefferson.”

Akers said the parking commission is currently reviewing the sites and will make a recommendation of the preferred site to the Board of Aldermen. He also said the city is looking into other parking options as well.

“The commission and Standard Parking, the city parking management consultant, are also investigating paid parking options for the downtown area.”

In an interview with Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson, the mayor said that the entire process ––  from construction to completion –– could take around two years.

“I think you’re probably looking, from the decision to go, I’d say about 18 months to two years,” Patterson said in an interview last month. “That includes a lot of factors, such as what it looks like, where it’s going to be, and how you’re going to pay for it.”

Patterson said that while a parking garage would be a useful amenity for the city, it will not come cheap.

“You’re looking at between $15,000 and $20,000 dollars per slip,” Patterson stated. “So if you were to build a 300 slip garage, you’re looking at around six million dollars.”

“Those things do not make money, they do not generate cash flow, and they can cost you about $500,000 dollars a year,” he added. –– Jared Senseman, senior journalism major, Meek School of Journalism and New Media

Email Jared Senseman at jrsensem@go.olemiss.edu