Out With the Old Wal-Mart, In With the New…
If you’ve had the chance to drive through Locust Street in Oxford, you’ve probably noticed that something is a little out of the ordinary recently: the building that used to be the old Wal-Mart is now reduced to a pile of rubble. The plan? To build a multitude of new buildings that will become stores, restaurants, and even the Lane Public Library. It will be known as Bishop Square.
The plan to tear down the old Wal-Mart and replace it with new buildings has been in the works since March 2007, when the Oxford City Council first proposed that something should be done with the space. The plan was approved the next month.
The renovation will happen in two phases. First, four 3-story buildings will be constructed in the rear of the site. These will all be residential buildings. Two 2-story buildings will be constructed in the middle. One of these will become the Lane Library, which is moving from its current location on South College Avenue, and the other is currently empty. Eventually, one or more 1-story buildings will go up at the front of the site. These will be used for commercial and retail purposes, however, they will not be built until the space has been leased.
Oxford’s Director of Economic Development, Alan Kyger, is optimistic about the effect of the development upon the area, noting that the development around Locust Street has been growing slowly over time. “We’ve seen an uptick [in business] after the recession of 2008,” he informed me, adding that the installation of the Walgreens on Locust Street has opened up north-south flow down that street.
Community reaction has been largely positive, according to Kyger. “We have tried to encourage redevelopment, that’s been a real conscious effort by the planning committee,” he told me. “The new development is a lot more grass. The community is excited to see more green.”
There are still many uncertainties surrounding the development on Locust Street, but one thing is for sure, Bishop Square is coming to town.
