Commending work on Columbus Ave.

SANDUSKY — For years, local officials envisioned, planned and talked about pursuing this project. Once breaking ground, the work ended up taking about nine months, frustrating local business owners and commuters greatly impacted by road closures. But a day in which all street stakeholders could come together and celebrate Sandusky's new-look central corridor occurred on Tuesday. About 100 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication for Columbus Avenue's transformation with many marveling at its evolution. Work largely wrapped up earlier this month with some cosmetic upgrades, such as bistro lights strung overhead, still ongoing. What happened? This past fall, Sandusky city commissioners approved a long-awaited, multimillion-dollar project to reconstruct Columbus Avenue — a main city thoroughfare, pretty much evenly dividing the city from its east and west ends — between Schade-Mylander Plaza on Water Street and up until Washington Street. Previous plans showed the project extending to the Sandusky Library on Adams Street. Shortly thereafter, and into the winter and spring, Columbus Avenue and access points branching off from there, like Water Street, remained inaccessible to the public for extended periods. The road work put a pinch on businesses. Fewer parking spots and on-again, off-again road closures forced people to avoid frequenting restaurants, shops and other offices along this corridor, merchants there previously said. And, for walkers, it's felt like a free-for-all with many pedestrians unsure of where they could exactly traverse through. If they did venture out in this warzone-like area, they needed to step around or even lunge through large rocks, rubble and other remnants separated by large amounts of yellow caution tape along with several orange barrels. Fast-forward to today, and now with the work done — described as a century-in-the-making infrastructure improvement initiative — all parties expressed their appreciation for a street better for all: pedestrians, business owners, visitors and residents. The new amenities Among the project's most notable aspects include: • Removing a 100-year-old brick roadway underneath this section of street with a road reconstruction that followed; While crews narrowed the roadway, it remains a two-way street. • Replacing an outdated 85-year-old main water line with new piping, doubling the current capacity • Improving safety and accessibility for all users, which includes better accommodating those in wheelchairs • Extending sidewalks, establishing a 20-foot-wide pedestrian zone on both sides: an 8-foot-wide sidewalk and a 12-foot-wide zone for outdoor dining and retail spill-out space • Establishing more open spaces for pedestrians, such as roomier dining areas • Placing decorative streetlights and other amenities in the area • Planting canopy trees on both sides, which replace trees once lining the street, which have been known to obstruct views A major concern voiced by skeptics of this project involved parking. In total, there are about 40 fewer spaces today versus a year ago. The project, however, still maintained 86 angled on-street parking and created 46 parallel parking spots — all free. Officials did add about a dozen spaces on Washington Row and in East Washington Row. They also pointed to the many parking lots, Erie County's parking garage and other on-street parking that people can use when visiting downtown. Making sense of the dollars and cents It's a project pegged at about $4.8 million. Officials said they're committing $3.7 million through present-day and future revenue streams that produce money through downtown-based real estate projects. It's a process known as tax increment financing. It doesn't take any money presently earmarked for everyday services local residents and visitors depend upon. The balance, about $1.1 million, comes from local funds. Comparing, contrasting The project borrows inspiration from a major makeover occurring to Jackson Street Pier and Shoreline Drive, which concluded in 2020. So many people rave about Shoreline Drive and, especially, the abutting Jackson Street pier, labeling it as a premier site for residents and visitors alike. The public waterfront space attracts thousands of people each year for events, like concerts, reunions, weddings and many more outings. Columbus Avenue could produce a similar positive effect. "The Columbus Avenue streetscape will enhance the corridor by improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians while also creating new opportunities for downtown businesses to expand their operations outdoors," said Eric Wobser, CEO of the Greater Sandusky Partnership. Wobser, in his prior role as city manager, long championed for this project and oversaw all aspects of Jackson Street Pier's and Shoreline Drive's reset. Speaking up Three Sandusky officials heavily involved with this project addressed attendees and underscored its overall importance. Here's an excerpt from each in the order of speaking: • Dick Brady, ex officio mayor: "Like so many of our projects in the last decade, the Columbus Avenue streetscape bringspeople together. It took a lot of very dedicated people to make today a reality. Today we say 'thank you' to all who played a role in this project, especially to our merchants who stuck with us for the nine months that upended their businesses and their lives. And to those future generations of residents and visitors, my hope is that you will make use of and enjoy our downtown for the next 100 years. What a great place to live. God bless the city of Sandusky. Now we celebrate." • John Orzech, city manager: "This project came out of the downtown Sandusky master plan from 2021. Lots of public feedback talked about more outdoor dining space on Columbus Avenue and wider sidewalks and safer intersections. This project shows that, when we make a plan, we deliver on seeing it through. Investing in our infrastructure in the core of our city is important for economic development and for improving quality of life. This is being done in conjunction with millions of dollars being invested in our neighborhoods." • Arin Blain, chief planner: "Thank you to everyone who believed in the project and who supported the investment in our community. No matter how small or large a role you played, I hope everyone who has been involved feels so proud of what we've accomplished. Downtown belongs to the entire community. It's our front door, our living room and dining room, our office and our playground. Here at the center of it, I am so pleased to welcome you to explore and enjoy the Columbus Avenue streetscape."