BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- A Butler County judge dealt a severe blow Monday to those hoping to save Oxford's uptown water tower, which has been called a historic landmark by some and a gigantic eyesore by others.
Common Pleas Judge John Moser upheld the Oxford Board of Zoning Appeals' decision allowing the city to tear down the 135-foot-high water tower that has been at Main and High streets for 76 years.
It means the tower could come down as early as July, a city official said.
"We're very disappointed by this decision," said William Stitt, spokesman for the Tower Project Committee, a group that has tried to save the tower. "We did the best that we could. The people on the committee put a lot of time and effort into preserving the water tower. Unfortunately, the judge's decision went against us."
He said his group had no plans to appeal Judge Moser's decision. Oxford Vice Mayor Kenneth Bogard said the ruling gives the city the chance to make plans for the tiny green space known as Memorial Park that the tower stands on and for the park on the opposite side of Main Street. "It provides for a new beginning and something that I feel will unify the community," he said.
The city will advertise for bids for demolition and probably will award a contract at its July 7 meeting. "When it's torn down would depend on what the contractor's schedule is," Mr. Bogard said.
For four years, the fate of the water tower has been hotly debated in Oxford.
In a non-binding referendum last November, 60 percent of Oxford voters supported tearing down the tower, which was emptied of water four years ago. After this referendum, the city made plans for demolition. But in March, the Oxford Historic and Architectural Preservation Committee turned down the city's request for a certificate granting permission to demolish the water tower.
A month later, the Oxford Board of Zoning Appeals overturned the committee's ruling, saying it had acted unreasonably.
Judge Moser said in his decision that he rejected the Tower Project Committee's appeal for two reasons:
The Historic and Architectural Preservation Committee's decision in April was invalid because it failed to give formal notice to the city.
The zoning appeals board did not act illegally, capriciously or unreasonably when it voted to permit the town to be razed.
