Roundabout work forces closure of dealership

HURON TWP. — A forthcoming roundabout project forced the closure of a family-owned dealership just short of its third anniversary. Huron-based McGraw Auto Sales & Service, owned by spouses Danielle and Jon McGraw, announced their company's closure in late November. They shut down their business shortly thereafter. "Last month, we met with an (Ohio Department of Transportation) representative about the upcoming roundabout," according to a McGraw statement. McGraw operated on Cleveland Road (U.S. 6) by Rye Beach Road between McDonald's and the Shell gas station. A state-funded connectivity corridor project calls for various upgrades along U.S. 6 between Huron and Sandusky, including roundabouts at this intersection and several others along Cleveland Road. Early estimates show the project costing $24.5 million, but new documents indicate it's increased to $27.1 million. "The start date and duration of the construction remain uncertain, but we have been told that access to our dealership will be permanently restricted — and almost all of our display lot will be unavailable to us throughout the entirety of construction due to temporary easements," it continued. Previous reporting indicated the roundabout work would begin in April 2026 with a scheduled completion date of October 2027. "Given this information, we have made the difficult decision to close," the statement read. "We are so grateful for your support over the past three years." In response, many people offered their well-wishes to the family. This included Craig Smith, who, on social media, said, "Hopefully, y'all find some place sooner than later. Been grateful for the amazing services that you have provided. Hopefully, you find a new location soon. Keep us updated." State responds The Register provided the McGraw statement to the state transportation department with spokeswoman Crystal Neelon responding: The Ohio Department of Transportation "is committed to maintaining access to all homes and businesses throughout every construction project. It is a standard requirement in all our project plans that access must be maintained at all times," Neelon said. She continued: "While temporary easements are a routine part of project development and are defined for each parcel for the full duration of the project, actual work at any given location only occurs during specific phases, not continuously." "We understand the importance of minimizing disruptions, especially for local businesses. That's why we work closely with property owners to reduce impacts wherever possible," Neelon added. "This includes measures such as installing temporary driveways and placing additional signage to help guide customers and drivers safely and efficiently." Erie County auditor records list Daniel F. and Carol C. Lapp as the owners of this 1.4-acre parcel. When asked in a follow-up email, Neelon couldn't delve into specifics regarding this business. "Since this parcel is in litigation, I cannot comment specifically on that business, however, I will reiterate: We maintain access to all businesses and homes on all projects throughout the project. We will never restrict access permanently," she said. "The only time access is ever restricted in a project is when actual work is being done to the access drive itself, like existing pavement removal or new pavement placement." Looking into the lawsuit Neelon referenced a lawsuit the state transportation department filed to obtain land so it can carry out the U.S. 6 connectivity corridor project. Categorized as multiple lawsuits, documentation indicates the state needs to obtain a portion of the parcels to construct a new corridor. There are 72 parcels in the construction zone that require right-of-way negotiations whether temporary or permanent, Neelon said. As of Nov. 26, the state agency has come to terms with 17 of the parcels, Neelon said. The state has filed suit in more than 15 parcels. These actions are known as appropriation lawsuits in Ohio. It is similar to the federal government invoking eminent domain. When the agency files an appropriation lawsuit, it is required to specifically delineate the location of the parcel and the dimensions of the land the state will temporarily occupy or permanently obtain. The agency must also deposit with the court the amount of what they think is the fair value of the land and possible damage to the remaining parcel. In one case filed against a parcel owner in the 5400 block of Cleveland Road W., the state wants to obtain a little less than one-twentieth of an acre of a 2.34-acre parcel. The agency deposited more than $55,000 with the court. Once a defendant receives the complaint, this person has 28 days to file an answer or move for an extension to file an answer. The defendant can also move to withdraw the money the plaintiff deposited with the court, and potentially use that money to hire an attorney to argue if they believe the valuation should be higher. Or if the plaintiff and defendant agree on the valuation, the case can be settled. The state has budgeted $5.6 million for land acquisition for the connectivity corridor project, according to Neelon.