Marous announces acquisition of Battery Park

SANDUSKY — Battery Park Sandusky — an affiliated entity of Marous Development Group, based in Willoughby, Ohio — recently announced the acquisition of the business and leasehold rights of the Battery Park Marina in Sandusky. Back in August, city commissioners agreed to the deal. This latest announcement serves as the formal, and final, announcement for this transaction. Even with this new arrangement, Sandusky's government still owns the waterfront land. "Our acquisition of the Battery Park Marina adds another gem in our portfolio of investments in the city of Sandusky," said Chip Marous, Marous' managing member. "As with our other Sandusky projects — The Columbus Avenue Revitalization mixed-use development, including City Hall, apartments and retail; the resort and attraction management school joint venture with (BGSU and) Cedar Fair, including our new Falcon Point Lofts apartments; and our ongoing renovation and adaptive reuse of the Feick Building — our plan is to transform and manage these crown-jewel assets for many years to come, for the good of a community that has welcomed us with open arms," Marous said. Marous also announced Oasis Marinas — a national marina management company, based in Annapolis, Maryland, with operations in the Great Lakes — has been awarded the management contract for Battery Park Marina. "Battery Park Marina serves as a premier property for Oasis Marinas being situated in downtown Sandusky and adjacent from Cedar Point," according to a company statement. "Oasis Marinas will oversee the day-to-day slip and marina management activities, boat services, facilities and grounds maintenance, marketing activities, new development and more at Battery Park as part of their agreement," the statement read. Added Dan Cowens, the CEO and founder of Oasis Marinas: "Sandusky is a lively city, and we couldn't be happier to have Battery Park as Oasis Marinas fourth property on Lake Erie. We can't wait to offer our services to the people of Battery Park and continue on the legacy of this amazing property." The family operating Battery Park Marina for more than three decades offered some optimistic, parting words for Marous, Oasis and the overall future of Battery Park Marina. "We look forward to seeing the realization of the vision that our father and brother, Paul and John Pheiffer, had for this jewel of the Sandusky waterfront," previous owners Paula and David Rengel, Jane Petree and Elizabeth Pheiffer said in a statement. "We fully support Battery Park Sandusky and Marous' efforts to upgrade and improve the facilities, access, and utilization of this beautiful site." Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser also appreciates their dedication to the community. "The Pheiffer/Rengel family has been an incredible steward of the marina and adjacent city-owned property. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their contribution to our community." Wobser said. "We're enthusiastic about the future of the site and Marous' involvement based on our already great relationship and existing public-private partnership on other projects. We're also excited to welcome Oasis Marinas to our city. Our community will benefit from its high-caliber management and operation of Sandusky's Battery Park Marina."