Jackson Street Pier to re-debut May 22

SANDUSKY — Not even the coronavirus can slow down, or even stop, crews from completing one of the largest projects in Sandusky's 202-year history on time. Officials remain confident about wrapping up all major tasks on Jackson Street Pier later this month. They want to re-debut the pier, undergoing an $8.1 million facelift, by May 22, the original end target date. Since breaking ground, just before Christmas 2018, contractors and laborers have worked to transform the public waterfront space. Aaron Klein, the city's public works director, broke up the pier's progress in five segments to provide new information on this overall initiative: 1. Pier • Latest update: "The contractor has completed the asphalt on the north end of the project. Light poles have been installed. The swings have been erected. The great lawn has been graded and hydroseeded (a planting process that uses a slurry of seed and mulch). Three of the planter beds have been completed, and the concrete is progressing to the south. Things are really starting to take shape. The roundabout will be poured next, and the stamped concrete striping will fill in the gaps. They will finish pouring concrete, landscaping and placing amenities over the next few weeks. Signage and other features will be constructed as well." • Completion date: "The pier itself is scheduled to open on May 22, as per the current contract. This would include all concrete areas, parking areas, sun steps, etc. We are awaiting a few benches and tables that are scheduled to arrive the first week of June, but that won't preclude its opening. We may have to rope off the great lawn as the seeding was delayed for several weeks because of delays to other things that snowballed into not being able to seed the lawn as originally scheduled. It was hydroseeded on Saturday, and we are hoping to get as much grass growing as possible before letting small groups start to gather." 2. Ticket house • Latest update: "The contractor has been able to do most of the interior and exterior work to finish up the building quickly. The patio area and railing will be installed over the next couple of weeks. The security perimeter for the Goodtime will be installed, too." • Completion date: "This is scheduled to be ready on May 22 as well as we were able to effectively work through all of the delays and new materials." 3. Restrooms • Latest update: "Improvements are being incorporated to make this a four-season facility rather than a seasonal restroom." • Completion date: "These are on schedule for completion by May 22 and would be opened when other city facilities are open to the public again." 4. Pavilion • Latest update: "The timber trusses were erected last week, and the tongue-and-groove interior roofing should be completed this week. Roll-up garage doors will be installed next week, and siding will be placed shortly thereafter. All trades will be onsite over the next month to finish interior work." • Completion date: "The timber trusses that were erected last week were delayed over a month due to very strict stay-at-home orders for the manufacturer in Michigan. This has pushed some of the interior finishing work back a few weeks. We are considering extending the pavilion completion date to June 12." 5. U.S. Customs and Pelee Islander • Latest update: "Much of the equipment has been installed, and the buildings are being built to U.S. Department of Homeland Security standards. Bumpers will be added to the pier walls to make sure the vessel can back into the ramp." • Completion date: "Travel restrictions at the border have not allowed the Pelee Islander to make a test run that is needed to evaluate placement of equipment. We will proceed with this as quickly as possible based on frequent updates from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. Delays to ferry operations have given us some flexibility to allow the contractor until June 12 to complete the customs facilities without compromising security." Providing insight on the pier project The Jackson Street Pier project calls for: • Maintaining all existing uses for fishermen, boaters and people who walk or drive there to park for relaxation purposes • Keeping parking along the water's edge and northernmost end; The overall parking tally drops from about 240 previously to roughly 100. • Adding a pavilion, also known as a multipurpose building, for possible events • Upgrading handicap accessibility for both commuters and pedestrians, who can more easily enter a boardwalk area • Creating a boardwalk spanning the entire pier's perimeter, which, in its past configuration, unexpectedly ended at the northwest corner • Enhancing the Homeland Security areas necessary to preserve ferry service to Pelee Island, the only public waterway transportation operation reaching U.S. territory • Addressing deferred maintenance and beautification issues while improving sightlines along the waterfront • Improving the ticketing, drop-off and waiting environment for traffic boarding or departing the Goodtime, Jet Express and Pelee Islander "This location, in the heart of our downtown, deserved to be something more than a parking lot," city ex officio mayor Dick Brady said. A year-long planning process brought together several community stakeholders — city commissioners, government staff members, residents and visitors — to create a blueprint for the pier. For instance, some residents wanted to keep all the parking spots. Others wanted none. The final product shows about 100 spots, which includes many waterfront spaces. "I do not believe there has ever been a project with more public input. The result is a lesson in compromise," Brady said. "No one got everything they wanted." But that doesn't mean people should be disappointed with the resulting aftereffects, Brady said. "The final product will provide a benefit to every resident, old and young. Watch a sunset, fish off the pier, fly a kite, eat your lunch," Brady said. "Now, more than ever, I am confident that the new Jackson Street Pier will be an inviting public space where our community can enjoy the natural waterfront beauty of our shoreline together." Making sense of the dollars and cents Amid an ongoing financial crisis involving commissioners recently laying off workers and scaling back services, many community members wonder why Sandusky's government committed $8.1 million for such a project. For starters, commissioners signed a contract for pier-related work in October 2018, about a year and a half before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Ohio. Additionally, not a single cent coming from the $24.5 million everyday operating budget — also known as the general fund, it's presently being gutted to conserve funds — subsidized pier tasks. The project's financials break down with: • $4.8 million: money coming from a special account solely produced by property taxes paid by Chesapeake Lofts owners • $2.05 million: money coming from local foundations • $963,000: money coming from a city utilities account amassed through water and sewer bills • $210,000: money coming from a federal grant • $75,000: money coming from state funds "The city was able to utilize tax increment financing and grants to complete the project without impacting the general fund," city manager Eric Wobser said. "Change like this is never easy, and the planning process for the pier engaged the entire community and forged a difficult compromise. I think the community will love the new Jackson Street Pier upon its reopening and will become yet another iconic Sandusky destination."