The Commerce City Council has asked its city attorney to help a California woman donate the old Oxford building to the city by Dec. 31.
The owner, Peggy Beauregard, Commerce Town Square LLC, apparently wants to unload the building on State Street by Dec. 31 to avoid a 2011 property tax bill. But until the city gets the warranty deed and a certificate of clear title from an attorney, it can’t accept the building.
“We need to be proactive,” urged councilman Clark Hill. “If this doesn’t happen by the end of the year, it probably is not going to happen. This is a tremendous gift.”
The city has been in contact with Beauregard, but as of Monday, the city had not received the necessary documents. The council directed city attorney John Stell to contact the woman and, if necessary, perform the title search.
Mayor Charles L. Hardy Jr. indicated before the council meeting that the city would accept the building without any conditions attached. When she made the initial offer, Beauregard suggested that the gift was contingent upon the city using the property for “public purposes.”
The council voted Monday night to accept the property pending the receipt of the necessary documents.
Oxford Industries was once among the industrial mainstays of Commerce, employing a largely female workforce to produce work-related apparel. Like Blue Bell (located in what is now the Commerce Civic Center) and Harmony Grove Mills (later Mt. Vernon Mills), Oxford shut down as foreign competition drove apparel and textile manufacturers abroad.
Exactly what will become of the building if the city acquires it remains up in the air. The structure is in such poor condition that some officials — including Hardy and city manager Clarence Bryant — believe it would be best to raze it and build a parking lot in its place.
If the City does get the building, there needs to be a sign saying for community/ civic center parking and down town parking only. NO parking for Little-Ward funeral service.
Little-Ward is quick to post a sign. and I dont want my very hard earned tax dollars spent on a parking lot that will only benifit the funeral home mor than the comunity
*their
*Scrooge