About Creekside Gahanna
In recent years, many American suburbs have begun to understand the need for a community focal point and charming mixed-use neighborhoods that add character to their communities. In 2003 the City of Gahanna issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for redevelopment of land in the center of Mill Street's north-south span. The RFP required that the developer continue the practice of linkages to Creekside Park and to accommodate vehicles with ample parking without detracting from the evolving urban and pedestrian atmosphere in the area. The City of Gahanna also emphasized its desire for true mixed-use development, with all uses taking advantage of Creekside views.
The Stonehenge Company (developer) partnered with the planning firm Bird Houk Collaborative to answer the City's call for Olde Gahanna's future mixed-use project. The development team proposed a multi-story development with first-floor retail facing Mill Street and Creekside Park. Upper levels contain office space and condominiums. Most impressive was the proposal to "hide" the parking areas in an underground garage and in the interior of the wraparound building concept. The proposal incorporated 389 new public parking spaces. In 2003, the City of Gahanna expressed its initial commitment to the broad concept and then entered over 18 months of negotiations between the developer, the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), and the City of Gahanna. The process involved the public in a series of public forums for the project and through several City boards and commissions.
In addition to the high-quality proposed design and architecture, the City of Gahanna chose the Stonehenge proposal because of its ability to incorporate unique shopping and eating tourist attractions into a vital neighborhood that the City of Gahanna is committed to sustaining into the future. By including residential and office units, the project becomes an area where people live, work and play. The three buildings consist of almost 200,000 square feet of new mixed use development, which including 100,000 square feet of office and retail space, along with 100,000 square feet of residential space.
The project also incorporates many natural elements, which include public plazas and a seamless connection to Creekside Park. The public plazas have many unique elements, including waterwalls, bridges, fountains, hand-cut limestone boulders, a flag art display, and the Gahanna Rotary Stage.
The Rotary Stage at Creekside has become the location of numerous free activities and concerts throughout the year. In addition, the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival as well as the Holiday Lights Parade are held in the Creekside/Downtown Gahanna area each year.
Creekside Park
Today, the park's many gathering spaces and the neighborhood's revitalization projects are becoming popular destination points for Gahanna's citizens as well as all Central Ohioans. The story of this success reveals how the following elements have revitalized the formerly polluted creek and deteriorating neighborhood: high-quality urban design that incorporates a natural waterway into the life of the neighborhood; extensive citizen and community leader involvement and input in the process; and, governmental commitment and creativity to long-range neighborhood planning.
The City of Gahanna owes its existence to the waters of the Big Walnut Creek. The original village was founded along its edge in the mid-19th century, and an old grain mill in the creek was essential for the village's early economic success. Through a collaborative effort with the citizens of Gahanna and consultants instrumental in San Antonio, Texas's Riverwalk Plan, City leaders led the effort to clean up the Big Walnut and create unique passive recreation spaces. The project has not only added beautiful public spaces to the city, but a place where families and individuals can enjoy and utilize the urban park.
