Last week Visit Oxford opened up a new office location on the Square in a former law office.

It was and still is an exciting time for the tourism office and it is a spot to position Oxford and the entire L-O-U community for positive growth in tourism.

A location on the Square well-positions Visit Oxford to get information out to visitors from all over the globe who are hanging out for the Double Decker Festival or grabbing a bite to eat at a well-known restaurant after visiting William Faulkner’s home. Or they may be in town to attend their favorite author’s book signing at the famous Square Books.

The repurposing of Oxford’s historic buildings on and around the Square with carefully selected businesses can poise Oxford for carefully managed growth and opportunity. And by growth, we don’t necessarily mean a population surge. It is a growth in sales tax and even more money coming in to city coffers from the tourism tax. 

Our city planning commission has this in mind and is looking out for the best for Oxford. We thank them for their service to the city.  It is residents who have a stake in the community and engaging in service to it that make a difference along with places like Visit Oxford.

It was recommended by several residents during the Vision 2037 reveals in public meetings last week that the city needs to create another committee for implementing changes the comprehensive plan recommends. Builders, developers and architects all expressed concerns with ratios and other numbers presented regarding future development.

There has to be a way to make the recommendations work in the Vision 2037 plan to better our city and make it sustainable in the long term. Another committee putting educated, informed and eager minds to work in service to the city will only improve its future. We agree with the suggestion of putting more unselfish minds at the table to study implementation and applaud residents who have homes, businesses, families and livelihoods in Oxford for stepping up and speaking out.

The community that works together to make things happen is one that will thrive together.