City extends deadline for Oxmoor Road lot proposal

The city has given interested developers an extra week to respond to its request for proposals for the vacant lot at 165 Oxmoor Road, next to Patriot Park.

The original deadline of Feb. 15 fell on President’s Day, when city offices were closed, so the deadline is now extended to Feb. 22.

Ward 2 Representative Fred Hawkins said he anticipates receiving anywhere between one and three proposals for the lot, which has been under discussion for several months. One of those potential proposals is from Post Office Pies. This is the second RFP process for the lot, after the city rejected its first two proposals due to serious questions or reservations about each.

Tom Walker, who is part of the team that proposed a food truck park and beer garden on the site, said that they have prepared a new proposal that keeps the original idea but better fits into the area’s zoning requirements. Walker said after the lengthy process that has gone into the lot, he hopes a decision can be made quickly on this new set of proposals.

“We’re at the point where we can’t afford to spend much more time on it,” Walker said. “We hope that the city recognizes how much work everybody has put into this.”

The other original proposal, a two-story retail and event space concept called The Grove, will not be making an appearance in this round of the RFP. Developers Sonya DiCarlo and Paula Harris said they have chosen not to participate, but would be willing to negotiate with the city outside the RFP process if the city is still interested in constructing The Grove.

“We do not feel this RFP provides the details needed in order to move forward and lead to success for both parties. In part, the new zoning/building code specifications for West Homewood seem to be at odds with the current property lines and the timeline details are not outlined,” DiCarlo and Harris said in a letter sent to the city’s engineering, planning and zoning department.

As of now, a timeline for considering and deciding on the new set of proposals has not been determined.