GAHANNA, Ohio — Gahanna City Council on Sept. 15 adopted Ordinance 0040-2025, authorizing supplemental appropriations for the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to discharge a mortgage on multiple parcels in the Creekside/North High Street area. Council debated grant deadlines, demolition timelines, property valuations and options for preserving a locally notable house before voting to approve the measure.

The action: The ordinance as adopted authorizes the mayor to provide supplemental appropriations to the CIC so the CIC can discharge a loan with Heartland Bank that is secured by a set of properties held by the CIC. Council first voted to waive the second reading on the ordinance, then reconsidered procedural votes after a city-attorney briefing on charter rules, and ultimately passed the waiver and the ordinance on final roll calls.

Nut graf: Administration officials and the CIC told council the step is time sensitive because the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) demolition and brownfield grants that fund demolition and remediation require that the grant-funded work be completed and funds spent by the end of the calendar year. If the buildings in the grant package are not demolished and the funds spent by the end of the year, the city and CIC risk forfeiting the grants and losing the collateral for the bank loan.

Details and timeline: City staff, represented at the meeting by Mr. Green in Director Gocki’s absence, displayed a map identifying the parcels that the CIC holds and which parcels are covered by ODOD grants. Mr. Green said the ODOD demolition grant covered properties on the west side of Mill Street (the “yellow” parcels) and an ODOD brownfield remediation grant covered other parcels (“green” parcels). He told council the demolition and associated spending must be completed by the end of the year to retain grant funding, and that the loan is scheduled to mature at year-end.

Mr. Green said the demolition contractor believes demolition can be completed by the end of December and staff are planning to start demolition in November if the appropriation and bank matters are resolved: “We have to spend the money. We have to demolish the buildings by the end of the year.” He noted the CIC applied for the grants through the Central Ohio CIC and that the grants were awarded for a subset of the CIC-owned parcels. The properties not included in this grant round include 130–140 Mill Street, the parcel behind that (the old Howard Johnson parking lot), and 120 and 110 North High Street; those parcels remain CIC collateral but were not part of the current demolition application.

Historic-preservation concerns: Several councilmembers and a resident speaker raised concerns about the Harry Bauer home at 120 North High Street, which some attendees described as architecturally significant. Administration officials said the Bauer house is not included in the immediate grant-funded demolition package; staff said it would be part of a later phase and that options such as moving the building or salvaging architectural elements will be explored with the historical society and other partners. Director-level staff said they are investigating whether relocation is viable and that salvage options exist if demolition occurs later.

Procedural and voting record: The council initially voted to suspend rules and waive second reading on the ordinance; that first waiver vote passed 5–2. City Attorney Tamela Lisonbee then noted section 4.12 of the city charter requires a six-vote threshold to suspend council rules when all members are present. A motion to reconsider the initial waiver was made and carried. Council then reconsidered and, on a second vote, passed the motion to suspend rules and waive second reading by a 6–1 roll call. After further discussion, council voted on final adoption of Ordinance 0040-2025; the final roll call recorded all members voting “Yes” and the ordinance was adopted.

Why it matters: Council and administration framed the appropriation as a strategic move to preserve the city/CIC’s control over key Creekside parcels and keep redevelopment options open while protecting grant funding that would otherwise be lost if demolition deadlines are missed. Opponents and concerned residents warned about the loss of historic fabric and urged careful coordination with preservation stakeholders.

What the ordinance does not say: The specific dollar amount of the supplemental appropriation was not read aloud in the portions of the meeting recorded in the public transcript excerpt reviewed for this article. The ordinance authorizes the appropriation and related administrative actions; it does not itself finalize a redevelopment plan. Future development would require separate planning approvals, development agreements, planning commission review and permitting.

Next steps and staff direction: If the appropriation and mortgage discharge proceed, city staff will work with Heartland Bank to effect the loan discharge, coordinate with demolition contractors, secure permits and pursue subsequent grant opportunities for other parcels. Staff also said they will continue discussions with the historical society and others about moving or salvaging elements of the Bauer house if preservation is feasible.