OXFORD — More than 100 acres surrounding the Oxford Casino have potential for economic development in excess of $50 million in retail and mixed use, according to Kevin Fletcher of KW Commercial in Portland.

Fletcher specializes in commercial real estate for the commercial real estate arm of Keller Williams Realty and has been hired by the Thurlow Family LLC to market the Route 26 property. He said construcrtion could begin this year on some of the properties.

The land includes parcels to the north, east and south of Oxford Casino that were consolidated about four years ago by family members under Thurlow Family LLC. The land is on the market for $100,000 per acre, according to Fletcher.

It is the same property that was expected to be developed by the Casalinova Development Group after its president, Joe Casalinova, announced in 2014 his intention, in partnership with the Thurlow family, to create seven distinct business “villages” on the land to capitalize on the economic stimulus generated by Oxford Casino.

The family patriarch, Evan Thurlow, a former Oxford selectman, sold more than 100 acres of his land to BB Development in 2010. That group of local investors constructed and opened Oxford Casino in 2012 at the corner of Rabbit Valley Road and Route 26, then selling it to Churchill Downs in 2013.

Casalinova said at the time he would market the remainder of the property to  businesses in the service industry, with the idea of creating a family-friendly retail and recreational space. There were also plans to have a second flagship or boutique hotel on site, and an approximately 40,000-square-foot, two-level shopping center. The first floor would be for retail use, the second floor for other, mixed use.

Casalinova helped the Thurlow family apply for and sponsor $125 million in credit enhancements to develop the land, which is within the town’s tax-increment zone atop what is known locally as Pigeon Hill.  An initial $10 million was invested to develop the Hampton Inn.

His  master plan was expected to turn the farmland into an economic engine over five years, similar to the North Conway shopping area.

That Casalinova plan is now dead and ties with Casalinova Development Group have been severed by the Thurlow family, according to Fletcher.

Fletcher said he has already met with potential buyers of various parcels, including those interested in building housing, condos or apartments and possibly retail businesses, including a convenience store, truck stop or maybe another hotel.

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Land across from the Oxford Casino on Route 26 is one of the parcels for sale for $100,000 an acre, according to a Realtor for Thurlow Family LLC. (Leslie H. Dixon/Advertiser Democrat)

Land next to the Hampton Inn on Route 26 in Oxford is on the market for $100,000 an acre, according to a Realtor for Thurlow Family LLC.  (Leslie H. Dixon/Advertiser Democrat)