New housing deal in Sandusky gets green light after dead stop

Judge overturns Board of Zoning Appeals vote to stop it; 132 units off Milan Road for residents 55 and older

SANDUSKY — Erie County Common Pleas Judge Tygh Tone overturned a Sandusky Board of Zoning Appeals decision that denied a variance for the proposed Sandusky Senior Lofts, a 132-unit, five-story apartment complex planned at 2216 Milan Road.

Provided by city of Sandusky

The developer, Pivotal Housing Partners, sought approval to build the senior apartment building with a smaller minimum lot size per unit—1,294 square feet instead of the 2,000 square feet required under city code. The BZA rejected the request on Sept. 18, 2025, but Pivotal appealed the decision.

Judge Tone’s order, filed in Case No. 2025 CV 0499, reversed the BZA ruling and granted the variance, adopting a settlement agreement between the city and Pivotal. The court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the settlement.

City officials say the additional units strengthen Pivotal’s application for federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which is expected to announce funding recommendations later this week.