County of Erie – The workers began to demolish part of Maui Sands, a former indoor water park in the county of Erie, and local officials are delighted to clean the property after a few years of convicted.
The interior water park and the hotel in the canton of Perkins opened for the first time in 2008 and, since then, has seen its fair share of problems.
“Maui Sands has had a bad reputation for a long time. Starting with bedbugs, squatters and now graffiti all over the building,” said Rebi Ribi Fuerst.
Ellen Schrig, director of the revitalization of ERIE County lands, believes that the problems arise from multiple property changes and original owners opening the hotel before being fully completed.
“I think that some of these interviews fell on the edge of the road, and when it was bought by the current owner, there was water damage in the property, which is ultimately why it was deemed dangerous by the health service,” said Schrig.
Maui Sands was in a notable place just north of Ohio 2 and the US 250, but he never reached his full potential during the 11 years he was opened.
In 2019, Maui Sands was convicted, which led the canton of Perkins to pass a demolition order on property.
“We wanted to make sure that we protect the dollars of taxpayers and ensure that property would be demolished and refurbished in the future.
The property bank was able to obtain a subsidy of $ 500,000 from the Ohio Ministry of Development for the Demolition Project. This has helped to advance on their revitalization plans to transform property into a new hotel and a new entertainment space so that residents and tourists can take advantage of it.
“The east and west side of the building will disappear, the four -story hotel and the water park will stay. They will renovate the hotel, then the water park will be refurbished in an entertainment space. It is a growing county, and we want to look (the future) and the current. This new hotel will provide jobs and will be very precious in the area in a moment like this, “said Schrigg.
Although many people are delighted for the future of property, Schrig has recognized that the plan to reverse part of the structure has been questioned by residents.
“We have obtained mixed criticism; People say: “it must all go down” or “why do they hold a game? Why don’t you transform it into this or that? And my answer to this is that we would not have a strategically partnership in this way if we do not think it was going to be an advantage for the County of Erie and the residents here, “said Schrig.
Schrig said the new project will offer another avenue for the hotel and the entertainment space in the region.
“We have a lot here, but they want to bring something different which, hopefully, will bring a whole new multitude of tourists and will give residents something fun to do the weekend,” said Schrig.
Schrig said the project will not be funded by the State and that, in total, it will cost about $ 720,000. This means that the owner will have to pay $ 220,000.
Schrig said their objective was that the project was completed by July 2027.
“I lived in the county of Erie all my life, and now I can be on the other side and put it back, it’s exciting,” said Schrig.