SANDUSKY — City officials say field work for a new housing study has been completed and the full report is expected to be presented to the Sandusky city commission in the fall.
The 2025 property inventory, being prepared by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, will update and expand on a 2015 citywide housing assessment. City leaders say the findings will help guide strategy, investment and development decisions in the years ahead.
“One of the intended outcomes of the property inventory is to assist city leadership in setting strategy and initiatives as well as investment decisions as related to housing development,” said Colleen Gilson, Sandusky’s director of community development.
The 2015 study found that most homes in Sandusky were in relatively good shape, with the majority rated either “A” or “B.” But it also raised concerns about the age of the city’s housing stock, much of it more than 75 years old, and warned that without intervention, those assets could deteriorate.
The report also identified vacant and abandoned homes as a persistent challenge. While the number of such properties was limited, the study concluded that vacant houses can erode neighborhood stability, lower nearby property values, attract crime, and increase stress for residents.
To address blight, the 2015 report recommended:
Strategic demolition of abandoned homes, despite costs of about $10,000 per structure.
A stronger partnership with the Erie County Land Bank to maximize state and federal demolition dollars.
Creation of a readily accessible property data system for planners and code enforcement.
Expanded assistance programs for struggling homeowners and responsible landlords.
“Gathering, analyzing, maintaining and continually updating housing data will provide the City with the ability to effectively utilize each of its many development tools,” the 2015 report stated.