Sandusky City Hall opens in downtown

Coming July 15: A special section providing an in-depth look at City Hall in downtown SanduskySANDUSKY — About 100 community members welcomed the newest residents of downtown Sandusky into their new home on Monday afternoon.The large crowd attended a housewarming party for Sandusky officials entering their new municipal home: City Hall, at 240 Columbus Ave.Community members attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Various project stakeholders — commissioners approving the project, state politicians securing grants and developers overseeing construction work — cut a ceremonial ribbon before everyone else entered. The celebration occurred just before a city commission meeting.People could then tour a lobby and the commission chambers. Officials provided refreshments and cookies for guests."What a wonderful day for Sandusky," said Dennis Murray Jr., the city government's ex officio mayor.People gather in the lobby of Sandusky City Hall before the first city commission meeting took place from there on Monday, June 24, 2019.Breaking ground in fall 2017, construction work involved repurposing three longtime vacant structures — the Whitworth, Kingsbury and Commercial Banking and Trust buildings — wrapping around Columbus Avenue and East Washington Row.Salvaging the structures, and maintaining many historical elements, presented problems. But construction workers persevered and still ended up with a product exceeding expectations, officials said."From Day 1 until today, it was never easy. It has never gone according to plan," city manager Eric Wobser said about the two-year-long initiative. "But everyone stayed at the table, fought through the complications and made the hard project work, which is better than anything we could have imagined."Lake Erie Shores & Islands president Larry Fletcher presents a plaque recognizing Sandusky as the "Best Coastal Small Town to Sandusky ex officio mayor Dennis Murray Jr. during the first city commission meeting at the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Only a small section of City Hall, the commission chambers, opened Monday. During the coming weeks and months, developers will unveil other areas, when they're completed, all within what's called the Columbus Avenue Revitalization initiative, a project totaling $11.5 million.Other than the commission chambers, everything else falling within this 51,000-square-foot space includes:• Administrative offices — think planners, lawyers, engineers, utility bill collectors and more — will fully relocate from Meigs Street by mid-July.• Columbus Avenue Lofts, a high-end apartment complex offering 18 units, each differing in size but all boasting scenic views of downtown; It should open sometime later this year• Vita Urbana, an upscale public market and wine bar; Customers can purchase coffee, to-go food items, like sandwiches, nonperishable goods from local farms and frequent a bar area serving numerous delicacies, wine and other alcoholic beverages. It should open sometime later this year.• Storefront spaces for two tenants; Each should open sometime later this year.Community members walk in to the new Sandusky City Hall for the first city commission meeting at its new location in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Officials want to schedule an open house sometime in mid-July, when people can check out these areas and amenities."Like any project, it's a challenge," said Chip Marous, the president of Marous Brothers Construction, which supervised all building-related work. "This has been a long journey. To see these beautiful buildings come to life again, and to see City Hall and the commissioners and everyone coming downtown, is something that the payback will be tenfold."Sandusky city commissioners conduct their first meeting from the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Among the VIPs in attendance: state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, and state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green. Arndt and Gavarone's predecessor, Randy Gardner, locked down $3 million in federal and state tax credits to lessen the local contribution."This is a wonderful community, and I have been really excited by all the energy and all the changes I see every time I come into Sandusky," Gavarone said. "Sandusky is in the middle of a massive revitalization and rebranding process, so it should be no surprise we are here (on Monday) to celebrate the new and improved City Hall building, which is really incredible."State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green presents a Senate President's Letter to Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Murray ended the ceremony by making a promise to his neighbors in downtown and beyond."It would be simple to say we achieved this mark, and we'll rest for a while. Someone asked me recently, 'Why do you have to (build so many things) at once?' When you have momentum, keep going. Success builds on success, and we are going to keep building."Several people — including Sandusky government officials, dignitaries and project stakeholders — cut a ceremonial ribbon outside the new downtown City Hall on Columbus Avenue in downtown on Monday, June 24, 2019.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Lake Erie Shores & Islands president Larry Fletcher shows a plaque recognizing Sandusky as the "Best Coastal Small Town" during the first city commission meeting at the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Community members attend the first city commission meeting at the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.People walk in to the lobby of the new City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019.Chip Marous, the president of Marous Brothers Construction, speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City Hall in downtown Sandusky on Monday, June 24, 2019. Marous' company oversaw all construction aspects.