By Betsy Brewer Brantner
Contributing Writer

A recent Oxford Borough Council meeting brought up a question from the public regarding a warehouse structure behind the Post House in East Nottingham Township. Rumblings about a warehouse, possibly an Amazon warehouse, have long been discussed in that community.

Why would a large warehouse in East Nottingham Township be of concern to the Borough of Oxford?

The borough is an urban center and, as such, everything going through the borough does affect the residents and the budget of the town.

With that in mind, if you travelled off the Route 1 Bypass and on to Route 10, look carefully to your left and right while driving toward the Borough of Oxford. You may be surprised to see the number of developments planned for that area.

Truth is, going or coming from the Oxford Borough in all directions, you will see signs of development in the Oxford area, and this development will impact schools and businesses.

As an urban center, many businesses are either located in Oxford or travelers will pass through the borough to their destinations outside of town. Route 10, Route 472 and Old Baltimore Pike intersect in the borough. Truckers need to know that there will be a turning radius to accommodate them as they travel to their destination, no matter what direction they are going.

And the borough needs to make sure that truck traffic, and the wear-and-tear it brings to a town’s streets, are being considered. Streets and roads need to be maintained to keep them safe, and there is a cost with that.

In Oxford Borough, as is the case with most Pennsylvania boroughs, some of the roads are owned and maintained by PennDOT, while the remainder are owned and maintained by the borough. The borough has seen a great increase in traffic, whether it’s trucks or passenger vehicles.

With developments springing up everywhere, traffic will undoubtedly increase on neighboring municipalities.

For example, one municipality, Lower Oxford Township, has numerous developments planned for the future, as the township’s secretary/treasurer Deborah Kinney recently outlined.

She explained that the BK Campbell Enterprises - Pine View Estates – development located between Conner Road and Baltimore Pike includes 184 Units.

Another BK Campbell Enterprises development, Reedville Village, is located at Reedville Road and Conner Road. Here, there are 154 units proposed. The site work is currently underway with no permits for homes issues as of this date.

That is the development underway in just one municipality in the Oxford Area School District. In addition to Oxford Borough and Lower Oxford Township, the other municipalities in the school district are Upper Oxford, East Nottingham, West Nottingham, and Elk townships.

Leaving Oxford Borough in any direction you will see developments popping up, just as they are in Lower Oxford.

Serving all those municipalities is the urban center of Oxford Borough.

As economic activities expanded in the borough with the help of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. and the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, business came back to the borough—in the form of restaurants and bars, pizza shops and apparel stores, and more. As that was unfolding, the Oxford Arts Alliance was founded and it didn’t take long for First Fridays in Oxford to bring people in from the surrounding area—including visitors from nearby Delaware and Maryland. First Fridays have been a bonus to the businesses in the area. Once a month, the streets are shut down in the center of town for special events that feature vendors, food, and entertainment. These special events showcase all that Oxford has to offer. The First Fridays, an influx of new businesses and the Oxford Arts Alliance helped bring people back to the borough.

Public works employees clean up days before and after an event. More police officers are needed to direct traffic and keep the packed streets safe. Borough sidewalks and lighting were improved with grants. Water lines and stormwater systems were also improved, making properties safer and more attractive for businesses. The town looked better, sidewalks were safer, and businesses were no longer dealing with flooded basements.  

These were growing years for the town, but as they grew, the borough started to see it did come with a cost. More police and public works hours impacted the budget. More pedestrians meant the need for safe sidewalks and streets. 

And with developments surrounding the borough, the wear-and-tear on the streets began to show. More traffic meant more police. As more trucks drove through town, the streets needed more repairs. Increased pedestrians and more shoppers required safe sidewalks, too.

In the last few years, the borough has become a destination for many throughout the week and certainly at special events. Students pour in by the hundreds to attend art and instrument classes at the Oxford Arts Alliance. The Oxford Library continues to expand their services, and has seen an increase in their programs for the community.

The Borough is an urban center. Where once Oxford might have been labeled as the end of the line, it is now the “Gateway to Chester County.”

The borough has begun in the last few years to share the expenses of their growth with those creating events, in order for those events to continue.

The borough continues its growth with improvements on Niblock Alley which will benefit pedestrians, shoppers and businesses.

Recently, a decades-long dream to bring a performing arts space to downtown Oxford is one step closer to reality. 

State Sen. Carolyn Comitta and State Rep. John Lawrence announced $2 million in state funding was awarded to Oxford Mainstreet Inc. for the reconstruction of the historic Oxford Theater on Third Street in the heart of the borough. 

“The performing arts can be a powerful catalyst for recreation, education, and economic revitalization in our communities. I’m proud to support this project and excited to see the historic theater returned to its former glory,” said Comitta in a statement when the funding was announced. “The theater will be a welcome addition to Oxford and I look forward to its completion and opening.”

Originally constructed in 1922, the Oxford Theater was one of three movie theaters in Oxford over the years.  After closing in 1956, the facility was partially converted into retail space that was utilized for a variety of purposes through the years.

Oxford Borough is an urban center and with others sharing the cost, they will continue to thrive. Oxford, the Gateway to Chester County, will continue to excite, delight, and provide a safe and fun environment for all those stepping through the gate.