Bickleys buy Huron marina

HURON — Quite literally, they're saving a sinking marina.Spouses Shaun and Jane (Gettell) Bickley, along with business partners Robert and Michelle Shepherd, recently acquired the southern half of Harbor North in Huron for $300,000. It's located off Huron Street near the Huron Yacht Club.Sitting stagnant for more than a decade — boats haven't docked there during this time and really can't because of the facility's unkempt, unsafe nature — several factors contributed to its deteriorating state."Over time, just nothing was done with the marina because of costs," said Shaun, noting how its previous owner, Bruce Roberts, "wanted out." Roberts still owns Harbor North's northern half.Shaun, however, envisions the property as a crown jewel just needing a good amount of polishing.In the coming days, he plans on starting a $500,000 facelift with expectations of opening and welcome boating traffic by May 1.Shaun, who owns Sandusky-based Shepherds Shoreline Construction, which has built and maintained more than 50 marinas along Lake Erie's coast, can undertake this project, in-house, at a fraction of the normal cost."You can get it done much cheaper when you are working for yourself and have your own employees," said Shaun, who lives in Huron with Jane. "No one can dredge cheaper than the dredgers. No one can sheet pile cheaper than the pilers. We can come in here and, effectively and monetarily, make great gains."Spouses Shaun and Jane (Gettell) Bickley recently acquired the southern half of Harbor North marina in Huron. By May 1, they plan on reopening the boating facility, catering to luxury-style boats.The new marina, primarily catering to luxury-style boats, calls for building 19 40-foot slips and a pair of 50- and 60-foot docks each."There are no docks larger than 50 feet in Huron," Bickley said. "And when we build the docks, we are going to go with cantilever hot-dipped galvanized floating docks. We are not going to use concrete or steel-can docks. It's important that if we are going to do an upscale marina, the proper materials, the proper docks and the proper spacing must happen."He's "ecstatic" about the possibilities in revitalizing this 4-acre waterfront property. It's also a dream location for where he wants to build a new home where he and Jane can live."I envision all the new docks full to capacity, and people sitting out here, having a cold beer in their hands, and enjoying their lives without any issues," Shaun said.Jane mirrors a similar level of optimism."This is a little hidden gem in Huron, and we are a team, so we support each other," Jane said.Local officials also expressed their enthusiasm for the project. The marina overlooks a parcel, formerly home to ConAgra, soon undergoing a $6 million transformation making way for 20 townhouses."The city is excited to see continued redevelopment along the North Main Street corridor," said Huron city manager Andy White, who led negotiations with a private firm on the townhouse deal. "The recent acquisition of this property by the Bickleys and their plans to redevelop it are the latest in a series of private investments in the downtown area. This investment is expected to generate more economic development activity in downtown, complementing strategic investments in public infrastructure by the city."Spouses Shaun and Jane (Gettell) Bickley recently acquired the southern half of Harbor North marina in Huron. By May 1, they plan on reopening the boating facility, catering to luxury-style boats.Name that marinaShaun and Jane Bickley, who are spouses and now own the southern half of Harbor North in Huron, want the public to help then name their new property.The winner will receive free dockage for a year there.To submit a name, email shepherdsshore@aol.com or message Shaun Bickley on Facebook. Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.