By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
A round of applause followed a vote by the Oxford Board of Aldermen Tuesday after the board approved 10 bid packages for the construction of a downtown parking garage.
The Oxford Downtown Parking Advisory Commission has been collecting data, devising revenue plans and holding countless work sessions and meetings for several years with the goal of having a downtown parking garage.
“I thank you for all the hard work you all have put into this,” Mayor Robyn Tannehill said to DPAC president Tom Sharpe.
Now, all that hard work is coming to fruition.
With the construction bids approved, the final step will be the Board of Aldermen voting to move forward with an $11 million bond to help pay for the garage, which is estimated to cost about $11.7 million. The additional funds will come from 2 percent tourism taxes and cash on hand in the Oxford Parking Department.
On Dec. 5, 2017, the Board of Aldermen adopted a resolution declaring its intention to issue and sell general obligation bonds for $11 million. No protests were filed; however, the Aldermen still have to vote whether or not to purchase the bonds, which is expected to be . on the board’s agenda in the near future.
Instead of hiring one general contractor, the city chose to hire construction management company Innovative Construction Management and bid each trade separately, receiving bids for plumbing, electrical, concrete and more.
The garage will be built on the city-owned parking lot on the south side of Jefferson Avenue, behind the Oxford North Square shopping center.
