Gahanna council advances Creekside redevelopment discussion as city, private projects proceed

City officials and developers on Oct. 6 detailed a two-part plan to rebuild and expand downtown Gahanna’s Creekside district, pairing city-funded plaza flood mitigation and plaza revitalization with a privately financed mixed‑use development that developers estimate at about $100 million.

Economic Development Director Jeff Gotke said the project is actually two separate efforts: a public project focused on plaza improvements and flood mitigation on city-owned property and a private project that will be built in phases. “Phase 1 will happen first. It’s mixed use, 263 apartments, a 55 to 70 room hotel, 2 restaurants, and a self‑parked parking structure,” Gotke said. He added the developers have pledged roughly $100,000,000 of private financing and plan modular construction built to LEED standards.

The distinction matters because the city project — shown in Gotke’s presentation as plaza revitalization in a red outline — will be funded and managed by the city to bring the plaza into FEMA compliance, reduce future…