Oxford Borough Council continues to discuss who should pay for improvements to sidewalks and curbing — individual property owners or the borough itself. Seeking grant funding is one possibility, but such funding is very competitive. A planned project on Mount Vernon Street will not include sidewalks, but it does have curbing, which could cost upwards of $500,000. If property owners are asked to pay and refuse, or are not able to pay, attaching a lien on their property may be a possibility. Curbs are a necessary requirement for stormwater management and to protect the longevity of the road. A project at Hodgson and Eighth streets is also under consideration. The borough continues to look at the ordinance language and will discuss it with engineers. Council members are aware of the hardships that property owners could face if sidewalk or curbing improvements are mandated. The Suburban Realtors Alliance is opposed to point-of-sale sidewalk mandates and will continue to monitor the discussion.
Source: Chester County Press; 4/17/2024