Sandusky’s downtown waterfront has filled in. Here is what changed
A rebuilt pier, a restored hotel and new restaurants brought life back to Water Street and Washington Park after years of empty storefronts.
Ten years ago, many of the storefronts along Sandusky’s Water Street were empty, and visitors bound for Cedar Point drove past downtown without stopping. Today the blocks near the bay have restaurants, apartments and events most weekends.
What changed
The city rebuilt the Jackson Street Pier into a public plaza on the bay, with space for concerts and ferry access. Historic buildings were renovated, including the Hotel Kilbourne, which reopened as a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar overlooking the water. The Sandusky State Theatre, a 1920s movie palace, continues to host shows. Washington Park, with its flower displays and fountains, anchors the downtown square.
The city has also invested in the Sandusky Bay Pathway, a walking and biking route along the shore. City projects and meeting records are posted on the City of Sandusky website.
Who comes
Downtown now draws Cedar Point visitors looking for dinner off the peninsula, island ferry passengers, and residents from across Erie County. Year-round apartments upstairs have added foot traffic in winter, when tourism slows.
Lessons for smaller towns
Sandusky’s revival relied on a mix of public investment, historic tax credits and private developers willing to take a risk on old buildings. Smaller towns like Bellevue and Norwalk have similar old brick downtowns but fewer resources. Bellevue’s answer has been property tax abatement through a Community Reinvestment Area covering the whole city.
Ohio’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, has helped finance renovations in downtowns across the state.
More on the regional economy in Business, including Norwalk’s uptown.