Creekside redevelopment plan draws broad support and parking, traffic questions at Gahanna public hearing

A public hearing on Nov. 3 brought vocal support and detailed questions about a mixed‑use redevelopment proposed for Gahanna’s Creekside District. The ordinance under consideration, Ordinance 42‑2025, would authorize the mayor to enter into a development agreement with Connect Realty LLC, Benson Capital LLC and the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation to redevelop vacant and blighted parcels in Creekside.

Mayor Chadwin, introducing the item, said the project “has been in the works for years” and that the Creekside strategy and the newly adopted Our Gahanna strategic plan informed the proposal. Director Gotke summarized the city’s public engagement: a dedicated email (Creekside@gahanna.gov), a project website, four public events (two for the general public, two for business owners/residents) and additional meetings with private groups. “We have done our parking demand study to better understand what the demand for those spots are,” Gotke said, and city engineers will vet any traffic impact studies submitted by the developer.

Speakers from the Community Improvement Corporation and local business groups urged approval. George Moss, a CIC trustee, said the CIC purchased roughly five acres in the Creekside District and that the proposed development includes “an affordable housing component that will support an enhanced and vibrant Creekside.” Betty Collins, CIC president, described a multiyear acquisition and RFP process and asked council to “support the development agreement.” Tyler Abrams, president of Visit Gahanna, told council the addition of a hotel and more pedestrian activity would increase bed‑tax revenue and help attract visitors.

Business owners and long‑time residents voiced conditional support while raising operational concerns. Keisha Smith Jones, who owns an office on Mill Street and serves as Gahanna Area Chamber president, said she experiences “parking challenges and traffic flow” daily but supports the project’s potential to “revitalize local commerce” and expand the tax base. Tim McClurg urged a stronger riverwalk and more retail along the creek but echoed concerns about parking loss for large events such as the city’s Blues and Jazz Festival.

Public comment identified four recurring concerns the administration said it is addressing: parking (including about 50 spots that are proposed to be removed in project plans), traffic volumes and mitigation, construction phasing and access for residents and businesses during work, and broader questions about whether the mix of uses is the right economic fit for Creekside. Director Gotke said the economic development department will coordinate mitigation and phasing from “groundbreaking to ribbon cutting.”

No vote occurred tonight; Council President announced the ordinance will return to the committee of the whole on Nov. 10 and is scheduled for a final vote on Nov. 17. Residents were told to direct further questions to creekside@gahanna.gov and to the project webpage creeksidereimagine.com, where engagement materials and prior presentations are posted.

The testimony showed strong institutional support from the CIC and Visit Gahanna and cautious optimism from many business owners and neighbors, with continuing scrutiny focused on parking, traffic studies and construction impacts. Council and administration emphasized ongoing public engagement and additional technical review prior to the scheduled vote.