Gahanna council approves $500,000 supplemental appropriation for CIC, postpones Creekside development vote to Nov. 17

Gahanna City Council on Monday approved Ordinance 0046-2025, a $500,000 supplemental appropriation to reserve funds for the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to cover demolition costs tied to reimbursable grant dollars, and simultaneously postponed a vote on Ordinance 0042-2025, the proposed development agreement for Creekside, to a date certain of Nov. 17, 2025.

Council members and staff said the appropriation was necessary to protect roughly $486,000 in reimbursable grant funds and to give the CIC the ability to secure a contractor to perform demolition if the developer cannot. Director Schultz told council, "The CIC will not have the ability to sign a contract with the demolition company until the appropriations are passed by council." City Attorney Tamela Larson said the draft supplemental agreement needed revision to reflect a reimbursement posture and to ensure any reimbursed grant funds would be returned to the city as appropriate.

Why it matters: the privately proposed Creekside redevelopment has prompted public interest in timing and who will perform demolition on CIC-owned properties. Council members said they wanted more community engagement and time to review a red-line development agreement that arrived shortly before the meeting. Council agreed to a public hearing on Nov. 3 and additional Committee of the Whole discussion before the Nov. 17 vote.

Council debated timing and contractor scheduling in light of the city's holiday light celebration on Nov. 23. Several members, including Councilmember Padova, underscored that no demolition should begin before the Nov. 23 holiday light event; Director Gautke said staff would not schedule work before the event. Councilmembers also said they wanted clearer schedules from the developer and contractor so residents and the city could understand the demolition window.

On technical terms, the council amended the ordinance's whereas clause to state that the CIC had been awarded two grants totaling $486,000 (the ordinance originally referenced a $500,000 figure). Administration explained the $500,000 appropriation provides a modest cushion above the expected reimbursable grant amount to cover any cost delta.

Votes and next steps: the motion to postpone Ordinance 0042 to Nov. 17 passed on a recorded roll call (council recorded unanimous support). The council voted to waive second reading on the supplemental appropriation; that waiver passed with one "No" vote (Councilmember Bowers). After a brief amendment clarifying the grant amount, the council adopted Ordinance 0046-2025. Resolution 51-2025, the companion supplemental agreement that would detail reimbursement terms and conditions, was sent back to committee and postponed to Nov. 3 for further drafting.

What remains unsettled: the text of the supplemental agreement requires revision to clarify that the CIC would be reimbursed only after incurring demolition costs and receiving grant reimbursement, and to document the mechanism by which reimbursed grant funds would be returned to the city if required. Council asked the administration for clearer pro forma financial estimates (TIF, NCA, other incentives), contingent-liability information and outreach materials before the next committee meetings. The administration also agreed to verify developer demolition scheduling and to publish project information at creekside@gahanna.gov.

The council indicated the items will return to Committee of the Whole on Oct. 27 and again ahead of the Nov. 17 council meeting.