Construction Well Under Way For Annex, Oxford's Newest Housing Option

BY MAGGIE THOMAS
Miami University journalism student

Miami University students who choose to live in off campus housing will have another option starting next fall. Construction is well underway on the Annex apartment complex, with an anticipated August 2017 opening.

Annex sits on 37 acres on the south side of Oxford, just off U.S. Route 27 and south of the Level 27 student apartments.

The project's developer, Trinitas Ventures, has seen significant interest from students, and anticipates they will be the primary residents at the property.

"We've had a great response from Miami University students," said Alie Hrabe, vice president for leasing and marketing for the Lafayette, Ind.-based builder. "Our leasing efforts are gaining momentum each day, leaving us with sold-out floor plans."

Annex will have 643 beds and 202 units, all fully furnished. The complex will offer two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages, in addition to townhomes with one, two and four bedrooms. The price of rentals will depend on the floor plan, ranging from $619 to $930 a month per person, with water, trash, sewage, cable and internet access included in the rent.

Annex will feature a wide range of amenities.

"The Trinitas Construction team is currently working on Annex’s clubhouse which will house a 24/7 fitness center, private study lounges, a TV gaming area and a computer café," Hrabe said.

At the same time, work is continuing on the cottages and townhomes, with workers currently "installing exterior siding and brick, drywalling, painting, interior trim and flooring," she said.

Bumps in the road

Annex has not been without a few bumps, however. Trinitas' original 2014 plans for Annex -- which originally went by the name Fields of Southpointe -- were turned down by Oxford City Council. Among the concerns: noise, traffic, use of green space, and whether Oxford needs more rental properties.

"We originally felt that it was too intensive of a use there so we wanted to reduce the number of beds," said City Manager Doug Elliott. "We ended up going to court, and we ended up settling out of court."

In the end, the city had to abide by its zoning laws, which allowed for Trinitas to move forward.

"The way we had set up the zoning, it allowed for that kind of housing," said Oxford Mayor Kate Rousmaniere.

When new housing is proposed, developers meet with the Oxford Community Development staff, Elliott explained.

"They typically have a site in mind, and so they want to talk to us about what are the restrictions on this site, how is it zoned," he said. "They may not be very familiar with our planning and zoning code, so we would go over that with them, each community varies a little bit."

In most cases, he said, developers come to the city and seek approval of their plans. “Typically we don’t go out to solicit developers. They come to see us. Certainly that was the case with Trinitas,” he noted.

Mixing the housing

Rousmaniere said many local residents would like to see more single-family housing in Oxford. "The problem with that is I can’t just say we need more moderate single family housing," she said. "Some company has to come in and say, 'This is going to make sense for me to build moderate income single family housing.' "

Elliott said it's not the city's job to determine Oxford's housing mix. Instead, city officials rely on the free market to determine that.

"Our role is to enforce our regulations," he said. "We have zoning laws, and so within our zoning laws and our building code the property owner has the right to develop their property."

Oxford needs a mix of housing options, he said -- with some residents wanting more single-family choices and others pushing for more affordable housing.

"I think it depends on who the consumer is. I think the number and variety of apartments we have is good for the students. And I think that the amount of building we’ve had going on hopefully has an effect on the price.”

Collaboration required

Steve Dana, member of City Council and the Oxford Planning Commission, said he thinks the city does a good job of handling rentals, but they aren't the only ones involved.

"The city has to collaborate with other people and other offices and jurisdictions. It has to collaborate with Miami University, but also with the developers and landlords themselves," said Dana.

City Council member Edna Southard she hopes Annex will be successful and that students will enjoy living there, but that she'd like to see more students live in town.

"If you live out of the town, it’s more difficult for you to participate in the town,” said Southard. “I would hope that the students that live in the Annex would find ways to be involved in the community.”

Photo: Construction projects are moving along at the Annex. -- Photo by Maggie Thomas