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Gahanna council advances Creekside redevelopment discussion as city, private projects proceed
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Summary
City staff and developers outlined a two-part Creekside plan that pairs city-funded plaza flood mitigation with a privately financed mixed-use development; council introduced a development-agreement ordinance and scheduled further public engagement amid resident parking and TIF concerns.
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 flood damage and add amenities intended to draw visitors and support local businesses. The private project includes a Mill Street phase for apartments, a hotel and parking, followed by a High Street phase of townhomes; Gotke said the land transfer for High Street properties will happen after Mill Street so disruption to the existing parking supply is staged.
Why this matters: the plan pairs public flood-control work with private development meant to increase daytime and evening activity downtown. Gotke said performance guarantees will be built into the development agreement to require developer milestones or allow reversion to the city or the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation if the project stalls.
Public comment at the meeting reflected both support and concern. Resident Tim McClurg urged the city to keep the parking lot near the sanctuary available for events such as the jazz and blues festival and asked whether flood repairs and plaza improvements had been cost‑separated; he also asked whether guarantees exist from the original Creekside builder. “I still think we gotta keep the parking lot by the sanctuary used for the jazz and blues festival,” McClurg said. Other residents, including Justin Yefinaro and Chris Quarter, said the plan would bring the density downtown that supports walkable businesses but acknowledged parking will need mitigation.
Council introduced Ordinance 0042‑2025, “an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a development agreement with Connect Realty LLC, Benson Capital LLC, and the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation for the redevelopment of the vacant and blighted properties in the Creekside District.” The ordinance was read into the record for first reading; no final vote was taken on Oct. 6. Gotke said additional approvals will include planning commission review (height, setbacks, parking and engineering), creation of a TIF and other local reviews.
City staff encouraged further public input: a public engagement open house will be Oct. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Creekside Plaza; the agenda lists a committee meeting Oct. 13 and another council meeting Oct. 20. Staff asked questions and comments to be sent to creekside@gahanna.gov; a project website is being built and expected to publish renderings and meeting materials.
Council members and staff repeatedly noted parking as an outstanding issue, with Gotke saying the existing lot would be retained for a period while city and developer work on replacement solutions; Gotke estimated the impacted lot is about 65 spaces. He also said performance guarantees are included in the development agreement to prevent a partially completed, vacant project.
The city also introduced Ordinance 0043‑2025, the draft 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan, which staff said remains open for council questions through Oct. 8 and could be revised before adoption.
Next steps: staff and developers will continue planning commission and engineering reviews, create TIF paperwork, and hold the scheduled public engagement sessions; council will consider Ordinance 0042 in future readings.
