New homes coming to Columbus Ave.

SANDUSKY — When the opportunity arose to create more residential spaces in Sandusky beyond downtown, Bryan Kasper signed up for the task. "Don't get me wrong: I love downtown," said Kasper, who serves as president of his company Kagland. The company manages several commercial and residential real estate properties. "But, when I bought this property, I wanted to move out a little bit — in the next range of development in Sandusky — and I thought this would be a great idea," Kasper added. Kasper referenced his latest and ongoing project at 1012 Columbus Ave. near Gundlach Sheet Metal Works. The building formerly housed Sonship Fellowship church. "We really believe this project will rejuvenate this area," said Kasper, referencing himself and his company's operations manager, Mike McCombs. "And we wanted to start with this cornerstone building." Breaking ground in March, the $700,000 project involves establishing four luxury-style apartments, each two stories in height, with all offering multiple bathrooms and bedrooms. Other amenities in each of these pet-friendly homes include granite countertops, laundry facilities, stainless steel appliances, solid flooring, off-street parking and a common outdoor area where tenants can relax. "These apartments will be something for people who want to live somewhere nice but don't have the wherewithal to buy a house just yet," said Kasper, who transitioned to real estate after a career as a car salesman and then a dealership owner. He also owns a distillery in Columbus and a bullet manufacturing plant near Medina. "That is the gap we are trying to fill," Kasper said about providing additional housing in Sandusky. Kasper expects construction to end sometime by September with tenants moving in shortly thereafter. "The rental market is strong here in Sandusky," Kasper said. "People will appreciate having nicer places that are out of downtown but close to it. From here, you are still within walking distance to everything in town. I think it's going to be a home run." Going to bat for the project, Sandusky community development director Jonathan Holody pitched this plan to city officials. He convinced officials to approve a necessary zoning change so this project could move forward. "Mr. Kasper has been involved in some impressive redevelopment projects in Sandusky in recent years," Holody said. "His latest project could be a spark that prompts more investment in the midtown Columbus area." On a related note, Kasper also owns the adjacent building at 1008 Columbus Ave. He wants to rehabilitate this building, also formerly owned by Sonship, into additional residential space.