A few weeks ago, the Spy learned that the Town of Oxford actually owns the land beneath the Tred Avon Yacht Club, along with several other properties around town, including the parcels that house the former Vanguard Bank and the Post Office— all of which have substantial assessed value. While it is not unusual for a town to own land outright, this prompted us to ask the town office for a complete list of municipally owned property. That information was promptly provided and is presented below.
Taken together, the list shows that Oxford controls roughly 47 acres of land with a combined assessed value of about $25 million. For a town of Oxford’s size, that represents a significant public asset held in trust for residents.
The list also makes clear that not all town-owned property is used for core governmental purposes. Some parcels are dedicated to essential public functions, including parking, utilities, and the Oxford–Bellevue ferry landing. Others are leased to non-governmental users or reserved for broader civic purposes, including buildings occupied by nonprofit organizations, private clubs, and federal services, as well as land designated as open space rather than developed infrastructure.
Several properties are leased to community or institutional users, in some cases at low or no cost. These arrangements reflect policy choices made over many years to support community organizations, maritime activity, and public access.
It is also clear that the town’s current portfolio reflects decisions made at different times and under very different circumstances, rather than a single, coherent strategy. In some cases—particularly where long-term or complex leases are involved—the origins of town ownership and the extent of retained control are not widely understood today. That alone makes these properties a matter of public interest and worthy of closer review and clarification.
We hope our Oxford readers find this informative as the town continues to make land-use and budget policy decisions.
Correction. The 200 Oxford Road property where the Oxford Community Center is not state-owned but owned by the Town of Oxford. We regret the error
Mark Laurent Pellerin says
I am not an Oxford resident and I have no interest in property there. I am an appraiser and must say that before stating a value on any property, there’s at least a trifle of an obligation to do some research and independent valuation, and I don’t “smell” any here. In many appraiser’s opinion, mine included, an assessed value is something of a “start” but that’s all — because those valuations are completed in a process that is termed “mass appraisal”, and this is more or less “quick and done” because the task is so great. llengeable. Do you have someone, say a family member, that you’d like to steer into doing all the appraisal work required to valve all these properties independently, accurately and without an interest ? I ask as this article strikes me as something that’s careless if not ill-willed and kind of poisoned arrow and one that was designed to cause a stir. Maybe you want to take this down until you know more ?
Editor says
Thank you for your comments. Valuations are directly from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) and reflect base values used for property tax purposes, not market appraisals.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
As a resident of Oxford, and given the events that have roiled this town over the last few years, I was also concerned that this was an attempt to introduce a potential source of controversy. With change in the administrative staff and in the composition of the Commission I believe there has been earnest effort to deal with issues from the past in a transparent and constructive way. The fact that you The Spy received the information in a prompt and unchallenged way points to the desire for increased transparency in our town. I agree that this deserves further attention in the future. However so does attention to storm water management, coastal resiliency, and intermittent flooding – all of which would put many of those properties under water.
Clara Kelly says
My mother was an Oxford resident and volunteer for more than 20 years — beginning in 1987. I live in Easton.
The Talbot County tax records are available to the public online. In addition, the Star Democrat periodically publishes lists of owners who have not paid their taxes.
My husband and I still keep in touch with several of our Oxford acquaintances, take frequent walks around the town, and pay close attention to the news about it. Our understanding is that a great deal of attention has been and continues to be given to stormwater management, coastal resiliency and intermittent flooding, among other issues impacting its residents. A few years ago, I attended a meeting held at the St. Michaels Maritime Museum about the more frequent flooding occurring in St. Michaels, Oxford, Easton, and Cambridge and what each of these towns is doing to address it.
We are also aware of Oxford’s controversies. I don’t think Talbot Spy’s report on the town’s real estate holdings should be perceived as being one of them.