Editor’s Note: This story is the third of a series of articles on Blake Tartt’s development projects in Oxford.
Bringing new projects to Oxford is a hobby for Blake Tartt, owner and president of NRP-Oxford. Tartt’s newest addition to Oxford will be a 15,000-square-foot shopping center, named The Sansing at Oxford Commons, which is expected to be completed in December of 2016.
“I have a meticulous effort for detail, and everything that we own in Oxford, we want to be ‘best of class,’” Tartt said. “To the best of my knowledge, this will be the first multi-tenant shopping center built on the east side of Oxford in many years.”
The Sansing will boast the restaurant Fuddruckers and about 11,600 square feet of retail space.
“My internal partner Greg Stackhouse has extensive retail contacts nationwide,” Tartt said. “I am 100 percent positive Greg will deliver a quality merchandising program for the property.”
Tartt said he is excited for the new shopping center because of the growth on the east side of Oxford and the importance of the Highway 7 corridor.
“Oxford Commons has done an excellent job developing an affordable housing option in Oxford,” Tartt said. “Grand Oaks and Highland Lakes are nearby. And Water Valley is important as it now is an affordable option to many who work in Oxford.”
Tartt said with all of his projects, he likes to “engage the senses.”
“We will use state-of-the-art LED lightning, which will create a sense of security while being environmentally friendly,” Tartt said. “As a student, I saw how well the Ole Miss campus was maintained when walking to class. From that learning experience, I made maintenance a daily part of my personal and business life.”
Because of Tartt’s love for Oxford and Ole Miss, he said he chose to name the shopping center The Sansing after a beloved professor of his during his tenure at Ole Miss.
Dr. David G. Sansing is an Emeritus Professor of history at The University of Mississippi, and Tartt said Sansing is one of the biggest influences on his love of Oxford.
“Imagine your professor spending time outside of the class, teaching you about the history of Oxford,” Tartt said. “Because of Dr. Sansing, I’m always thinking of a new angle of giving to Ole Miss and Oxford. Naming this project is a personal way of thanking him.”
Sansing said he was absolutely honored that Tartt would name the shopping center after him.
“I’m almost out of words,” Sansing said. “Blake is one of my all-time favorite students, and I appreciate all that he has done for Oxford and the University.”
Randall Haley is a social media editor and staff writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at randall.haley@hottytoddy.com.
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