The Oxford Commons is a pretty exciting development when you sit back and think about it, and when complete, it will be an ideal sustainable little community right inside Oxford.

Alyssa Schnugg’s Sunday focus story was an update on the development after having a sit-down with its developer, David Blackburn.

It already gives residents the ability to walk to go see a movie, grab a Frosty at Wendy’s and walk to either the high school or elementary school.

Family time can be on a biking or walking trail. And when the in-laws come for a visit, they can stay at a hotel, still even within walking distance.

By pricing homes starting in the $200,000 range it allows working families to have a better chance of living in Oxford  not by rentals and students and not in the higher-priced downtown area. Young professionals, retirees and others who are interested in greener living are all targets for this development.

Another great feature of the development is being immediately accessible to Highway 7, Highway 30 and Highway 6. That greatly reduces traffic on other congested major thoroughfares throughout the city and gives residents ease of getting to and from work and even the grocery store. But, Blackburn said a grocery store moving into the Commons is in the works, so that is good news also.

Metropolitan cities and larger communities like Raleigh, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; Atlanta and Birmingham have examined and executed this concept and it has been an asset for residents, whether it was a local developer or a government project.

The larger communities have benefited from a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The three entities created a partnership for Sustainable Communities “to help communities nationwide improve access to affordable housing, increase transportation options and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment.”

Oxford is doing that with this development, creating excitement and opportunity.

We echo Blackburn’s excitement when he said “I’m really enjoying the whole process. I’m impatient to see what it all looks like 20 years from now.” It’s truly going to be an asset to the community and its residents.