Battery Park gets $10M

SANDUSKY — Sandusky's ambitious plans to redevelop Battery Park have taken a step forward. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Tuesday that Erie County will receive $10 million of brownfield remediation money to help clean up the site. It's part of an announced $58.2 million being doled out to clean up 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 33 counties. DeWine's announcement indicates the $10 million is being awarded to the Erie County Land Reutilization Corp., also known as the county land bank, for work at Battery Park Marina. "The project will include soil excavation, treatment and disposal, as well as the removal of an underground storage tank and contaminants from a vacant pool," said a news release DeWine's office issued. "The remediation will support a 768,000-square-foot, mixed-use development with residential, retail and hotel spaces along with a reimagined marina and public recreation area. The project aligns with Sandusky's Downtown Master Plan and is expected to create 281 jobs," it said. The project's $10 million award is the maximum amount the state could give from its brownfields program. "This investment brings Battery Park Marina one step closer to fulfilling its potential as a centerpiece of Sandusky's future," said Eric Wobser, CEO of the Greater Sandusky Partnership, the local economic development organization. "This transformational project will not only benefit our local economy but enrich the experience for locals and visitors to our waterfront." Project gets 'critical' funding The proposed redevelopment Battery Park, a largely unused waterfront space located downtown at Meigs and East Water streets, involves extensive development of the 33-acre area. All in all, city officials previously marked the project as a $190 million investment, which would be paid for primarily through future revenue streams created by improvements in property values made possible through Battery Park's new development. It's a process known as tax increment financing. The city wants nearly 250 living spaces, including condos and apartments, a five-story hotel with about 130 rooms, a parking garage for up to 1,000 vehicles and revamping the existing marina. But public uses also will be included, including expanding green space from six acres to nine acres and putting in improved boardwalks, piers and other public spaces. The project will be supervised by Marous Development Group, a company based in Willoughby. Marous has done other work in Sandusky, including renovating the Feick Building, revamping three buildings into Vita Sandusky and the new Sandusky City Hall and putting up a new downtown building for a resort and attraction management program, a joint venture of Cedar Point and Bowling Green State University. Other Erie County officials also stressed that the grant announcement is important for the area: • Pat Shenigo, county commissioner and land bank board president: "This funding will go towards critical environmental and infrastructure upgrades for Battery Park Marina." • Matt Old, county commissioner and land bank board vice president: "It takes a lot of work to secure this level of funding. It's exciting to see the impact this grant will have in improving the Battery Park Marina." • Erie County treasurer Caleb Stidham, who oversees the land bank: "This is one of the largest development investments from the state of Ohio in Erie County's history. We are grateful of the work of Gov. (Mike) DeWine as well as Sen. (Theresa) Gavarone and Rep. (DJ) Swearingen, for their work to support this funding. Also, I'd like to thank Ellen Schirg, the land bank's director, and the city of Sandusky for their work to support this grant process." • Sandusky city manager John Orzech: "Securing this state brownfield grant is a big win for Marous Development Group's Battery Park project. It allows us to address environmental concerns while setting the stage for a new waterfront development that will transform an underused area into a thriving, community-focused space." More local projects funded The governor also announced brownfields grants for other sites in the Sandusky area in Huron and Sandusky counties: • About $300,000 to the Huron County Land Reutilization Corp. for the 512 E. Tiffin St. project in Willard at the site of a former glove factory • About $235,000, also to the Huron County Land Reutilization Corp., for work at the 80 S. Railroad St. Project in New London "We are looking forward to utilizing these grants to remediate both properties and bring these former manufacturing sites to a place that will allow for growth and future development," said Judy Lykins, land bank coordinator for the Huron County Growth Partnership. "Our partnership with Ohio Department of Development allows small, rural counties like ours to access funds to create healthier, safer and prosperous communities." • About $400,000 to the Sandusky County Land Reutilization Corp. for work at a former lumber yard. It's the former Appleby's Lumber, 304 N. Front St., in Fremont • About $483,000 to the Sandusky County Land Reutilization Corp. for work at a former junkyard, Triple J Towing ,at 2111 and 2115 Hayes Ave., in Fremont. Sandusky County's treasurer, Kimberley Foreman, a member of the board for her county's land bank, said local officials are pleased to get the grants. "We want to clean up the blight in our community," she said.