The former restaurant Pedro's Cactus Cantina, located uptown, will be demolished Sept. 18 to make way for a new building containing businesses and apartments. --Matt Sperzel/The Miami Student
After nearly three years of vacancy, Oxford will welcome a new complex of lofts to replace the former uptown restaurant, Pedro's Cactus Cantina.
Demolition of the former Mexican restaurant will begin Sept. 18. Following the building's destruction, 40 E. Park Place will become home to the Lofts of Bella Place. Construction of the new four-story building will include a commercial ground level with the lofts above.
Heather Kacachos, director of business operations of Park Place Real Estate Management, Inc., commented on the many assets the new development will bring to Oxford.
"It's an exciting project to bring businesses into town which helps the economy, which also brings jobs," Kacachos said.
According to Kacachos, the new residential and business complex will increase pedestrian traffic uptown, which in turn will benefit neighboring businesses in the uptown area.
And while Kacachos was unable to comment specifically on which companies will be bringing their business to Oxford, she said the vendors would be geared toward college students, local citizens and families.
Oxford Community Development Director Jung-Han Chen said the community of Oxford is ready for this development. The plan for the new building was shown at a public meeting where citizens didn't voice any concerns.
"I think that this will help (the economy of Oxford) because Pedro's has been vacant and inactive," Chen said. "There will be more commercial activity."
In addition, Chen said he believes it is time for the demolition.
"Bricks were falling off the side and it is a very prominent location in uptown," Chen added.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
The building has remained empty for several years because the plans for the new residential and business complex must receive approval from the city, according to Kacachos. However, this project is something citizens wanted, and Park Place Real Estate received 50 letters from local residents and businesses in support of the development.
Upon completion of the new complex in 2008, the Lofts of Bella Place will include nine apartments with four bedrooms with four private bathrooms, with an additional guest bathroom. The 1,500- to 1,800-square-feet lofts will also each contain an IKEA kitchen with a dishwasher, garbage disposal and built-in microwave range. Furthermore, all residential units will contain a washer and dryer, central air and internal sprinkler system for fire safety.
And while this living arrangement will cost between $4,200 and $4,500 per person, per semester, only five remain, as four have already been rented out for the 2008-09 school year.
Miami University senior Elizabeth Nitz said she remembers Pedro's from her first year at Miami. Likewise, Nitz said she thinks that the Lifts of Bella Place will be rented out quickly because Miami students enjoy living uptown.
"It's a shame to see these empty places uptown," Nitz said. "They should be put to use."
Nitz also said she hopes to see new food options on the ground level once construction is complete.
"The Miami student is used to construction, so that won't be a change," Nitz said. "This just means that Oxford is striving to improve."
However, Miami junior Kelly Hewitt said the development essentially monopolizes Oxford because it gives the town another housing development, but at a very high price.
"I think it's like every other development that's being created in Oxford," Hewitt said. "They are basically the same except for the guest bathroom, which is kind of unnecessary."
Because the lofts are attracting Miami students, Hewitt said building the new lofts makes Oxford cater even more to the students rather than Oxford residents. However, she said it would improve Oxford's economy.
Christopher Washington contributed to this report.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.