Walkability Amid Suburban Sprawl: The Shops at the Oxford

Oxon Hill, Maryland has acquired a new communal amenity which has been long awaited for: The Shops at the Oxford. This development neighbors the newly renovated Oxford Apartments, also designed by Soto, and is among the only new developments in the area.  

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View Of the Shops at the Oxford from Oxon Hill Road

Picture of the completed site, highlighting the thoroughfare

Site plan depicting Oxon Hill's present and future developments

The two 8,000 square foot buildings each contain four retail spaces, half of which are already occupied. The shops are oriented around a public thoroughfare which allows for outdoor seating and connects the Shops to the adjacent Oxford Apartments. The front of the buildings are oriented towards Oxon Hill Road, to attract both pedestrians and vehicles alike.  

At Soto, we ensured that the needs of the community were thoroughly met, as the Shops at the Oxford is our first retail design project. “We hoped to create a small walkable community that complimented the Oxford Apartments, while also respecting the mostly suburban, auto-centric culture that exists now,” said Joe Iwaskiw. Joe is an Associate at Soto, as well as leader of the project’s design team. 

According to Joe, bringing in the contractors early in the design process was crucial, allowing the team to have collaborative value engineering sessions to reduce cost, and further the understanding of the project needs. 

The two retail buildings are quite simple in form, yet incorporate design considerations which tie them together with the neighboring Oxford Apartments.

“We wanted to maintain the same material palette between the Oxford Apartments and the Shops at the Oxford. Raised corners at the entrance of two of the retail spaces are faced with wood cladding and match the soffits at the Oxford Apartments. When the wood cladding went up it really tied the building all together,” Joe explained. Accent bricks along the Shops also mimic the darker gray of the Oxford Apartments’ facade. Even the canopies at the Shops match the columns and railings at the Apartments. 

The Shops at the Oxford are among the first major construction projects Soto will complete in the area, as another retail pad is in the works. These new construction projects will increase walkability within the community, making it easier for residents to walk to the shops, grocery stores, or local eateries within a quarter mile.

Joe emphasized that “there are a number of great community features that are being added to the apartments, which you wouldn't necessarily find in a typical suburban context.”

The team at Soto sought to create meaningful developments in the community, despite suburban spread limitations, and hope to bring a sense of civic pride to the community. ​​

Written by Schola Eburuoh, NOMAS, Student Intern