Oxford is full of student housing complexes but lack options for senior citizens and retirees who want to downsize or not buy a large house. On Monday, their options of living arrangements grew by one.

The Oxford Planning Commission approved the site plan for a senior condominium call ‘The Barrington’ that will be restricted to residents 55-years and older. The project will be built where the Oxford First United Methodist currently is at 600 Molly Barr Road, and will be located next to Stone Park. First United is currently building a new church off of Old Sardis Road, allowing the developers of ‘The Barringer’ to buy the property.

Brian Development owns the property, which was originally planned to be three stories in height and will have 39 condominium units with the option of two or three bedrooms. During Monday’s meeting, the commission also approved a special exemption to allow the developers to make it a four-story complex to allow the first level to be designated for parking.

There will be 83 covered parking spaces on the ground floor with 13 exterior spaces reserved for visitors or any service vehicles that may need to come to the development.

The commission also granted a special exemption from the required front step-back and a parking variance. The current building codes allow for one parking space per unit for senior housing. However, city planner Judy Daniel said the department is considering changing the code, as many senior citizens have more than one vehicle.