Jury settles Sandusky roundabout land case for $1.25 million
City valued property at about $160K; ODOT to pay 95% of cost
SANDUSKY — They might be the most expensive parking spaces in county history.
A jury awarded S&S Realty Ltd. $1,250,465 in compensation after the city of Sandusky took two property interests through an eminent domain court case. Eminent domain is a power that allows a government to take property for a public use. A court case is filed and a judge or jury determines the value of the land forfeited.
A portion of the award is for property that amounts to about four parking spaces at the corner of Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive.
S&S Realty is a family-owned and operated company that has been in business since 1979. It is run by the Sortino family, including George and James Sortino. They own and operate Sandusky Plaza shopping center and are also involved with the Cedar Corner Complex where the Thirsty Pony restaurant and the Cedar Lanes bowling center operates.
The public use is for the planned construction next year of a roundabout at Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive near the entrance to the Cedar Point Causeway.
The verdict, delivered June 6 after a five-day trial in Erie County Common Pleas Court, includes:
$157,670 for the full acquisition of Parcel 51-WD and its improvements.
$719,440 for a temporary easement on Parcel 51-T.
$373,355 for damage to the remaining property, known as “damage to the residue.”
Judge Tygh Tone’s final judgment, filed this week, transfers ownership of the acquired parcel to the city and orders all claims by other parties cleared.
The city will also cover all court costs, transfer fees, and recording fees. Any unpaid taxes on the property as of May 24, 2024 — the date the case was filed — will be deducted from the award and paid to the Erie County Treasurer.
On Monday, city commission approved paying the judgement order and settlements in three other court cases, resolving all remaining the land acquisition efforts to build the roundabout.
It is the first of six roundabouts planned along the Cleveland Road corridor from Ohio Route 2 in Huron to Sycamore Line in Sandusky. Construction on this one could get started as soon as next spring.
The roundabout at Cedar Point Drive is the only one located inside city boundaries. The other locations are: Rye Beach and Cleveland roads; two roundabouts at the interchange from Ohio Route 2 to Ohio Route 6; one at Camp Road and Cleveland Road; one at East Perkins Avenue and Cleveland Road.
City commission adopted two other measures by the same 6-0 vote related to the Cleveland Road Safety Improvement Project (commissioner Dennis Murray Jr. abstained):
Vtanium Inc. settlement: A prior deposit of $10,085 fully resolved the city’s action against Vtanium Inc. regarding the same project; no further payments are required.
Yang Properties settlement: Commission authorized payment of $156,820 to Yang Properties LLC. Like the S & S Realty settlement, 95% will be reimbursed by ODOT, with the City paying $7,841 from its Major Infrastructure funds.