Gahanna
A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section
Letter from the Mayor
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the city of Gahanna and invite you to rediscover a thriving community that offers a world of charm and tranquility, with endless possibilities.
Nestled along the Big Walnut Creek, in the shadow of John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Gahanna is more than just a place to live; it is a thriving hub of culture, commerce and community. From local businesses that add flavor to our neighborhoods to welcoming parks that offer solace and serenity, every aspect of our suburb reflects the warmth and diversity of our residents.
This year marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of Gahanna. While we celebrate the rich heritage that has formed the city of 35,000+ residents that we know today, we are building with purpose as we evolve and modernize for the future.
Whether it is small, family-owned businesses that are choosing to grow in Gahanna, larger enterprises that are driving innovation and economic expansion or our school district that is investing millions of dollars in capital improvements to expand opportunities for today’s students and accommodate future student populations, Gahanna is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and economic
vitality that define our region. With our tree-lined streets, welcoming and diverse neighborhoods, 20+ miles of trails, 800+ acres of parkland and open spaces and beloved events, you have a city that offers everything you need to create your own unique story.
Despite the physical changes that have occurred since 1849, one theme remains constant in the heart of our city—the connection our residents have to their community and to one another, and the pride and affection they have for Gahanna.
As you explore this special section, I invite you to immerse yourself in the stories of our diverse community, celebrating the achievements of our local talents, the collaborative spirit that unites us all and the hidden gems that make Gahanna a cherished destination. Whether you are a longtime resident or a curious visitor, we look forward to welcoming you to the city we love to call home.
Laurie Jadwin, Mayor
3 8 13 20
A CITY FILLED WITH PERSONALITY
Gahanna is filled with fun, culture, diversity, history, unique characters and caring people.
ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS
Gahanna offers a thriving business sector that benefits from a convenient location and strong community support.
HEALTH CARE HUB
Gahanna sees tremendous growth in the medical sector.
ON THE COVER: Attendees at the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival in summer 2023 | Photo: Courtesy City of Gahanna
CITY OF GAHANNA
A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Michelle Crossman
EDITORIAL
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
Ashley Alt
COLUMBUS MONTHLY EDITOR
Dave Ghose
CONTRIBUTORS
Andrew King
Mandy Shunnarah
Peter Tonguette
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
PAGE DESIGNERS
Kathryn Biek
Kelly Hignite
DIGITAL EDITOR
Julanne Hohbach
ADVERTISING
MULTIMEDIA SALES MANAGERS
Heather Kritter
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PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Rebecca Zimmer
EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES
CREATING SUCCESS STORIES
Gahanna schools are excelling in academics and beyond.
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City of Gahanna: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section is published by Gannett. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2024, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.
Mayor Laurie Jadwin
LIFESTYLE
A CITY WITH PERSONALITY
Gahanna is filled with fun, culture, diversity, history, unique characters and caring people.
Music by the Creek
For three days each June, the city of Gahanna’s Creekside District becomes the epicenter for enthusiasts of jazz, blues and soulful sounds of all sorts.
Naturally, the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival draws music aficionados from Gahanna and surrounding suburbs, but the annual event also brings in numerous out-of-towners eager to hear local and nationally recognized acts—some 25,000 guests from 27 states last year, according to Lori Kappes, executive director of the Gahanna Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Some people put it on their calendar knowing that it’s the Father’s Day
weekend every year,” Kappes says. “I’ve heard people say that Gahanna residents who have family members from other places will have them come and visit [Gahanna] during that weekend.”
This year, the 25th edition of the festival will be held June 14-16 and will feature an eclectic array of headliners, including Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind, MojoFlo, Huntertones and Brass Queens. Each genre is given its own stage: a jazz stage and a blues stage.
“It’s definitely the biggest event that we have in Gahanna,” Kappes says.
Yet, a quarter of a century ago, the festival’s origins were modest: the first edition was a half-day event celebrating
the opening of Creekside Park.
These days, attendees not only have a multitude of music to choose from but an array of ways to satisfy their appetites while their souls are being nourished through sound.
“In addition to all the world-class music, we do have lots of great food options,” Kappes says, pointing to some 20 food vendors who will have setups at the festival.
“We meticulously go through the menus of the food vendors who apply to make sure there aren’t any repetitive dishes being served,” she says.
Plus, there are always restaurants within the footprint of the festival.
The 2023 Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival
PHOTO:
JAMES D. DECAMP
“People have options to do food truck food, and they also can go and have a seat in a restaurant and eat that way,” she says.
Area businesses—both restaurants and shops—report a boom from the influx of people who come to Gahanna during the three-day event.
“We’ve been told from other businesses that are not even walkable from here ... that that weekend is one of their biggest weekends from people just stopping there on the way out from the festival or on the way in,” Kappes says.
Kids are welcome, too: A children’s discovery area features music and activities tailored to budding blues and jazz enthusiasts.
“We’ll have different music performers on that stage, and they invite kids to come up onstage with them,” Kappes says. “They are given little shakers and musical instruments to participate and dance. It’s just really adorable.” —PETER TONGUETTE
Unique People, Unique Stories
Gahanna’s slogan is “Your unique story
begins here,” and no one knows that to be true more than Kari Hawk. As vice president of the Gahanna Historical Society, she’s passionate about sharing stories of the famous, infamous and downright quirky characters who have called the city home.
That includes a musician who Rolling Stone called “one of the greatest guitarists of all time.”
Hawk shares, “Joe Walsh of The Eagles grew up playing in the creeks and running around the city.”
Still, there’s someone who has even more name recognition—at least as far as surnames go.
“One of my favorite stories is that the Bush family, of the two presidents, their grandfather and great-grandfather, Samuel Prescott Bush, was president of Buckeye Steel and built a house in Gahanna once he became wealthy and wanted to establish himself in the area,” Hawk adds. “He was the first Bush to really get the family riches going, and that shaped history.”
Beyond individual residents, Gahanna has made history for groups of people, too.
“We were home to one of the first Black or African American country clubs in the country. It was where Friendship Park is today,” Hawk says.
Big Walnut Country Club was commemorated at Friendship Park with the city’s first dedicated historical marker, which was unveiled in fall 2022.
Another group Gahanna is proud to support is Gahanna Residents In Need, a local food pantry.
GRIN provides food assistance to people who need it in the 43230 ZIP code, which encompasses Gahanna.
“We have 36 different languages filtering through our elementary schools, [and] a lot of people from different countries eat more fresh foods and foods they prepare themselves,” says Brenda Johnston, executive director of GRIN. “So, we try to provide different kinds of produce and things that are not in a box and have diversity in our meat and dairy selections.”
Johnston first began volunteering with GRIN in 2006 and has seen the organization grow exponentially. Just this past year, GRIN moved from a 2,500-square-foot facility to one with
The 2023 Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival
When life has you frazzled, find your peace in Gahanna parks.
6,400 square feet, which allows them to serve 8,000 to 10,000 people each year. Looking forward, Johnston is working to partner with other organizations to increase the food pantry’s supply of fresh produce, especially in the winter.
“I love working for people and helping them eat, “Johnston says. “The basics of life are being able to eat and feed your family. And if they can’t eat, how are they supposed to go to school and learn? Or go to their jobs and be effective?”
GRIN celebrated 50 years in business in 2022, which speaks to the generosity of Gahanna’s residents. This sense of community is one reason why Hawk loves the city so much.
“The people here are some of the nicest people,” Hawk says. “We have some of those webpages where people can say things like, ‘I need a crib,’ and they’ll have a crib within an hour.
PHOTOS: JAMES D. DECAMP
City of Gahanna
Everybody wants to help each other,”
When Shelby Lee and Greg Austrow were looking for a home three years ago, they didn’t yet know about Gahanna’s culture of kindness; they were drawn by the city’s other qualities.
“We chose Gahanna because the schools are good, and there are a lot of parks in the area and a lot that can be walked to,” Austrow says. “Gahanna is close to [Interstate] 270, so there’s accessibility to the rest of Columbus.”
However, they were pleased to find that Gahanna has several unique amenities that cater to the couple’s interests, which include nature, gardening, good food and karaoke.
“I enjoy the bike trails, especially the Big Walnut Trail,” Austrow adds. “The Gahanna Grill is really good, and we like Signatures Tavern, as well as pretty much everything in the Creekside area. Plus, Gahanna is the Herb Capital of Ohio.”
“Creekside Café is another one of
our other favorites,” says Lee. “We also recently went to the Dolphin Lounge, and they do a lot of karaoke, which we love.”
These are just a few of the many unique stories that begin in Gahanna, and each new resident adds to the funky fabric of this vibrant community.
—MANDY SHUNNARAH
The Herb Capital of Ohio
Fifty-two years ago, a Gahanna resident wanted her city to be associated with something—anything.
“She wanted Gahanna to be known for something,” says Kappes of the Gahanna Convention and Visitors Bureau.
So, in 1972, Jane “Bunnie” Geroux succeeded in persuading members of the Ohio legislature to deem Gahanna the Herb Capital of Ohio.
“She and her friends really enjoyed gardening herbs, so she just said, ‘You know what? We’re going to make Gahanna be known for that,’ ” Kappes
says.
“Two years ago now was our 50th anniversary of being designated Ohio’s Herb Capital,” Kappes says.
Today, the city lives up to that unique label.
The Ohio Herb Center—formerly known as the Ohio Herb Education Center—is located within the NafzgerMiller House, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the Herbal Cocktail Trail: Barrel & Boar’s Rosemary Greyhound cocktail
PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA
In the house’s parlor, the center presents classes and workshops on everything from culinary to medicinal uses of herbs.
“We just had a sold-out winter skincare-with-herbs class, so it’s a variety [of activities],” Kappes says, “[like] landscaping-with-herbs classes.” The center also is home to a gift shop with many locally made products.
Perhaps the largest example of the city’s herbal heritage can be found on Herb Day, which is held on the first Saturday each May in the Creekside District. “It’s a giant plant sale,” Kappes says. “We have herb [plants] and flowers.” Health and wellness vendors also set up shop in the district. “And we have various types of entertainment. We have some demonstrations and other fun activities.”
Last but not least is the Herbal Cocktail Trail, which has been a community favorite since launching in 2017. “We ask our local establishments that have liquor licenses ... to participate by offering an herb-infused cocktail,” Kappes says, adding that establishments without liquor licenses can offer herb-infused mocktails.
“We have 12 different local establishments [participating],” she says. “If you pick up a passport and get six stamps [on the trail], then you are eligible for a prize.”
Passports are available at the Ohio Herb Center. —PETER TONGUETTE
From the Herbal Cocktail Trail: Local Cantina’s Stargarita
ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS
Gahanna offers a thriving business sector that benefits from a convenient location and strong community support.
By Andrew King
Nestled just east of Columbus, the city of Gahanna, with a population above 35,000, is making an outsized impact on the region. It boasts a thriving business community and a reputation beyond its borders, attracting investment and entrepreneurship from down the street and across the globe.
Decades before Gahanna was named Realtor.com’s “Hottest ZIP Code in the Nation” in 2023, the community was already drawing broad interest.
In 1983, Belgium-based international
aerospace intelligence innovator ADB Safegate expanded its operations to the United States by opening its North American headquarters at 977 Gahanna Parkway. The decision would be the start of a partnership that’s lasted more than 40 years, renewed in 2021 by the announcement that ADB would double down on its Gahanna investment, building a 175,000-squarefoot “Center of Innovation” at Science Boulevard and Tech Center Drive.
“We did look outside of Gahanna— we actually looked outside of the
state,” says Michael Morrow, CFO of ADB Safegate Americas. “But Gahanna has always been a good partner with us, and we frankly wanted to stay here, for our employees … and because we like Gahanna.”
Morrow says the new site—a gleaming, modern space that nearly tripled the size of the former headquarters— made sense because of the logistics of being close to the airport and because of assistance and incentives from economic development agency JobsOhio and the city of Gahanna.
PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA
“It was a good experience working with them,” he says. “We liked the community … and we didn’t want to leave. It turns out we didn’t have to.”
While ADB Safegate has a global view from within Gahanna, businesses don’t need international aspirations to find a home in the community, even if they’ve been on a long journey of their own.
Southern California isn’t quite as far from Gahanna as Belgium, but the trip to Central Ohio was still a long one for Candi Francisco, owner of one of Gahanna Creekside District’s newest businesses, Speakeasy Bakery. Originally from St. Louis, Francisco moved to Central Ohio from the West Coast after working for a liquor company in Los Angeles.
Not a drinker herself, she wasn’t sure what to do with the “many cases of liquor” that were remnants of her old job. So, she started baking with it, earning a reputation among her friends for her delicious treats. After working out of the Food Fort in Columbus, she decided to open a brick-and-mortar location and settled on Creekside, which was something of a callback to her very first Central Ohio experience.
“The funny thing is, when I first moved to Columbus, I moved here for a job,” Francisco says. “And when I had my interview, I came here from California. Gahanna was actually the first part of Columbus that I saw.”
Positioned just a few miles from the airport, Gahanna has an uncanny ability to serve as a first impression of Central Ohio. And those who can capitalize on that opportunity see a real benefit.
Since opening their Gahanna business in 2022, Jomar and Shanika Sheppard have had their fair share of celebrity run-ins thanks to presenting an appetizing, nearby option for people stepping off a plane. The pair owns Marlow’s Cheesesteaks at 93 N. High St., a venture inspired by their Philadelphia roots.
“There was a big music festival in Springfield, Ohio, last year, and a band was flying in from LA,” Shanika says.
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“The funny thing is, when I first moved to Columbus, I moved here for a job. ... And when I had my interview, I came here from California. Gahanna was actually the first part of Columbus that I saw.”
Candi Francisco, owner of Speakeasy Bakery
Head baker Judy Slattery prepares tiramisu and cannoli at Lola & Giuseppe’s Bakery.
PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA
A tiramisu and cannoli dish at Lola & Giuseppe’s Bakery
“They were on the plane and said, ‘We’ve got to get food,’ and someone happened to be on the same flight and said, ‘You’ve got to go to Marlow’s. It’s like five minutes from the airport.’ We get people like that.”
The appeal of airport-adjacent cheesesteaks goes far beyond musicians, though. Over the last two years, Marlow’s has seen a variety of nationally known comedians, largely thanks to the Funny Bone Comedy Club at Easton; former NBA player and reality TV star Lamar Odom, and even the basketball team of Southern California’s Sierra Canyon High School, home of LeBron James’ kids.
For entrepreneur Pam Tylka, meanwhile, a move to Gahanna came as a kind of kismet.
Tylka had owned and operated the popular Pam’s Market Popcorn, out of Columbus’ North Market Downtown for years. But the expenses and challenges of running a Downtown business had forced her to leave, and she wasn’t
sure where her next home would be until a chance encounter brought her back to her family’s roots.
“When I left the market. I didn’t have a plan,” she says. “But one day I had to ship something at the UPS Store here, and I saw that this location was available. When I looked at it, oddly enough, there was a North Market basket in here. I was like, ‘Wow.’ It was just perfect. And it worked out. I was almost giving up hope of finding a place, and it just so happened that my kids grew up here and went to school in Gahanna. So, this is where I belong, I guess.”
Back in Gahanna since 2017, the smaller town feel was particularly important for Tylka years later, when she was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma after a chance trip to the doctor for a broken toe. Running a business while battling cancer is never easy, but Tylka appreciates the backing and care she’s received from those around her.
“I’ve had great support from the
customers and the community,” she says. “People would come and bring me stuff and help me out [and offer] encouragement. I mean, I was closed, and my people understood that some days I didn’t feel good. I’m very blessed and very lucky.”
While some business owners like Tylka have enjoyed rediscovering Gahanna, others never really left.
After growing up and going to school in the city, brothers Joey and Jamey Sexton started a pizza food truck in 2016 with just a few thousand dollars. Now, the pair operate Sexton’s Pizza in Gahanna, Hilliard and Harrison West, along with their new venture, Sexton’s Burger Bar, which opened in early March at 921 E. Johnstown Road in the same shopping center as their Gahanna pizza location. For the brothers, sticking around their home community was important.
“Anything we did in the beginning, we were always like, ‘It would be fun to
City of Gahanna
go have something where we grew up,’ ” Joey says. “Obviously, we did the pizza shop there, and that’s doing really well. So when we had another concept, which is the burger bar, we had a good landlord, a space a couple doors down and everything we wanted.”
This new venture comes with a celebrity twist, as former Ohio State University quarterback and NFL wide receiver Braxton Miller joined the ownership group, bringing added popularity to the Sexton’s brand that is already thriving thanks to excellent online pizza reviews.
“This is an awesome community,” Shanika Sheppard says. “And they really have a strong appreciation for family, community and supporting local businesses. We get support from other communities, too—New Albany, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Pataskala. So we’re also helping to drive traffic of non-Gahanna residents into Gahanna, which is important, too, because you also don’t want a community to feel so much pressure to constantly have to support the businesses.”
“I think it’s a blast for the suburbs,” Joey says of Miller’s involvement, “and it’s something to look forward to on game days. They have an Ohio State legend in their neighborhood in Gahanna.”
With or without a local legend on board, the future looks bright for Gahanna. The city is reinvesting in a variety of areas through its Gahanna Community Improvement Corp., purchasing space with hopes to revitalize or revamp. That includes parcels in the Creekside District, which hosts the city’s biggest annual event, the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival.
But as the city’s reputation grows and its reach broadens, business owners find themselves relying less on one big event and more on the community within and beyond its borders.
And for those who came from other neighborhoods—either across the city or across the world—that kind of community feel has been a critical amenity for Gahanna.
“I have friends that have businesses in California, and when I tell them just how much of a personal touch there is and how supported I feel being here versus what they’re experiencing in California, they’re very jealous,” Francisco says. “It’s been a wonderful experience. And Gahanna is telling me, ‘This is what the city has planned. These are the opportunities that we have in the future. This is how we would like to incorporate your business.’ They’re definitely there to help see your business grow and flourish and be a part of the community. So it’s wonderful.”
Sexton’s Burger Bar owners, from left to right: Jamey Sexton, Stephen Jordan, Braxton Miller and Joey Sexton
PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA
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“Get ready, Gahanna! The vibrant and tantalizing world of Bubble Tea and fresh juices has descended upon Creekside Gahanna with the grand opening of the newest Bubbles The Tea & Juice Company”
HEALTH CARE HUB
Gahanna sees tremendous growth in the medical sector.
By Peter Tonguette
When one of Central Ohio’s leading orthopedic practices is building a new 60,000-square-foot facility, it’s big news.
“Every time I drive past, I’m seeing more progress,” says Stephanie Rauschenbach, the director of market development at Orthopedic ONE, which boasts nine locations throughout the region.
The new, still-under-construction office, which will function primarily as a clinical space, will open in Gahanna this fall and will replace an existing office on Taylor Station Road.
What makes the facility even bigger news, though, is its location: Orthopedic ONE’s new office is being built in Crescent at Central Park, a
112-acre mixed-use development in Gahanna. Over the last three years, the area has become a hub for the health care sector.
“We have probably 30 practices that will be there, either established or already committed to go into an existing building that’s under construction,” says Larry Canini of Canini and Associates, which is developing Crescent at Central Park.
“We can all complement and support one another, and it also just makes it that much more convenient for the patient, which is a big part of our mission,” Rauschenbach says.
Among those health care practices with a presence in the development
A rendering of the new Orthopedic ONE building as you will see from I-270
Pictured from left to right: Orthopedic ONE’s Chief Operating Officer Brooke Burns, Chief Executive Officer Mark D’Aloisio, Gahanna Site Manager Courtney Taylor, Physician and Managing Partner Joel Politi, Physician and Managing Partner Jonathan Feibel, and Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin celebrate the groundbreaking of the practice’s new facility at the Crescent at Central Park.
PHOTO:
City of Gahanna
are Central Ohio Primary Care-Family Physicians of Gahanna, Vive Vascular and Ohio Opthalmology, among others. There is room for more to come, with Ohio Gastroenterology, Central Ohio Endoscopy and Capital Psychology set to move in later this year when their building, currently under construction, is completed.
“We would probably be in a position right now to offer, easily, another 200,000 square feet [about twice the area of a Manhattan city block] of medical uses in some breakdown or another of size for the next two or three years,” Canini says.
The origins of Crescent at Central Park stretch back over a decade.
“The project started as a 100-acre parcel that had been basically farmland between I-270 and Hamilton Road,” Canini says. “The Buckles family, which is a generational family in Columbus, had controlled that land.”
In 2012, the city of Gahanna sought
to attract users to the property by building Tech Center Drive, a main thoroughfare that bisected the 100 acres. “When that occurred, [the city] made the effort to build what became Buckles Court South, and that generated a 10-acre area on the south side of Tech Center Drive along Big Walnut Creek,” Canini says.
That allowed for the first building to be constructed on what is now Crescent at Central Park: Central Ohio Urology Group.
The project stalled, and by 2018, Canini’s group got involved.
“What we did—in conjunction with the city’s team, of course—was look at the whole site and say, ‘OK, what’s the best way to lay this out from a mixed-use standpoint?’ ” Canini says. “We focused on the fact that we had the Central Ohio Urology Group already established on the eastern end of that corner.”
From there, the decision was made to actively attract additional medical
practices to join the urology practice and create a kind of health care hub for the city of Gahanna.
“It’s a great location,” says Dr. Ronney Abaza, a robotic urologic surgeon who practices at the Central Ohio Urology Group. “The proximity to the airport is really fantastic, particularly for those of our patients that come from out of town [and] are flying in.”
The Central Ohio Urology Group draws patients from around the country for its unique status as an ambulatory surgery center equipped with the da Vinci Xi, a robot that allows intricate procedures to be performed using the tiniest of incisions. The group was the third ambulatory surgery center in the nation to make use of the robot.
“The layman’s term is ‘keyhole surgery,’ ” Abaza says. “You’re basically doing surgery through these little keyholes. We have a scope, and we can see what’s going on in the inside. The instruments are robotic, so the
Maggie’s Orthopedic Practice MOST TRUSTED
“I was really active in college, but began experiencing hip and back pain. Doctors said I had hip dysplasia – but offered no next step. I thought this was just how my life was going to be. After searching for solutions online, I found experts at Orthopedic ONE who could fix my problem. I got off crutches and never looked back. Orthopedic ONE absolutely changed my life.”
– Maggie James, Military wife, Bartlet’s mom and Orthopedic ONE patient
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“What we loved about Gahanna [and] Crescent was the ease of access, right off [I-]270. Having all that complementary health care development happening in that space is a great thing for our patients.”
Stephanie Rauschenbach, director of market development at Orthopedic ONE
surgeon, at a console, has these little remote controls and we control the robotic arms inside the body.”
Although it can be applied to various procedures and conditions, the robot is mainly used to treat prostate and kidney cancer.
“We’re able to do the same operation we used to do by hand, by cutting people open, through these little, tiny incisions,” Abaza says, adding that such traditional procedures usually involve spending several days in the hospital and possibly receiving blood transfusions.
With robotic surgery, by contrast, “[patients] have a lot less pain, and recovery is a lot faster,” Abaza says.
Not only does robotic surgery hasten recovery time, but the ability to do it on an outpatient basis outside of a hospital setting contributes positively to a patient’s mental and emotional well-being.
“Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are facing cancer surgery obviously have a lot to worry about, so it’s very common for them to be anxious, stressed, sometimes even [having] some depression, too,” Abaza says. “I tell people it’s like going to a day spa, but rather than having a massage or a facial, you’re getting your prostate cancer taken care of.”
As the anchor to the medical sector of the Crescent at Central Park, the physicians who practice at the Central Ohio Urology Group recognize the benefit of being in close proximity to a wide array of other health care providers.
“We have 25 urologists, and urologists that really cover all the different sub-specialties of urology,” Abaza says. “Any of these referring physicians who decide to practice in our area [in Gahanna] will know that, if there are any urologic issues that they see with any of their patients, we’ve got it covered.”
Orthopedic ONE was also drawn to the Crescent at Central Park because of the emphasis placed on health care services in the area.
“We knew it was time to leave that Taylor Station space and really focus on a space that would allow us to be fully clinical,” says Rauschenbach, noting that the Taylor Station office was used as both a clinical practice and administrative offices.
“What we loved about Gahanna [and] Crescent was the ease of access, right off [I-]270. Having all that complementary health care development happening in that space is a great thing for our patients,” Rauschenbach says.
The new location will serve residents of Gahanna and neighboring areas.
“We see a lot of growth happening over on that side of town,” Rauschenbach says. “We are pulling from New Albany out to Pickerington. We do have a smaller Canal Winchester presence, but we are seeing a lot of those patients from that southeastern quadrant come to us in our Gahanna location.”
Although the medical sector has helped spur growth at Crescent at Central Park, the development is designed to be mixed-use in the fullest sense.
“With all the employees that are coming in to work in these medical communities or medical buildings ... a lot of [staffers] would need an opportunity to have a place to live,” Canini says. This spring, Casto will break ground on Crescent Woods, a 294-unit multifamily complex also located at the Crescent at Central Park.
“In our game, it’s always about bringing [in] daytime employees and then nighttime residents,” says Canini, who now hopes to roll out retail opportunities along Hamilton Road. A gas station and convenience store will also
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Having a strong health care presence in the development, though, provides a solid, foundational anchor that will ensure its success over the long haul.
“The benefit of bringing in medical users ... is not only giving them an opportunity to come to this location, but we actually give them an opportunity of having ownership in the building,” Canini says. “So now they’re committed to the project, both financially and long-term.”
The developer notes with appreciation the role the city of Gahanna has played in realizing the area’s potential.
“Gahanna has been very helpful and progressive in helping us move in this direction,” he says. “You don’t always get that from communities, but they see the value in what we are bringing.”
Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Two organizations in the city of Gahanna are helping residents with developmental disabilities find their way in the community—and helping businesses benefit from what they can offer.
“The growth for this industry is pretty staggering,” says Ryan Cook, the executive director of all R friends, which provides day support and supported living services to those with disabilities 18 and older.
The organization, which began in 2009 in the Church of the Nazarene in Westerville, now operates a total of six locations, including, since 2013, one in Gahanna. There is a wait list at all locations.
“The numbers are just getting more and more every year,” Cook says of demand for his organization’s services, which include providing clients with the training and support necessary to obtain jobs in the community.
“There are more and more individuals with autism, more and more individuals with some form of developmental disability,” Cook says. “The need is only growing greater.”
At all R friends, individuals accepted into the program are divided into teams: a blue team, consisting of
“One of the things we work on with the blue team [is] employment skills—helping them figure out what it means to have a job, what kind of job they might want, what skills they need to have to have that job.”
Ryan Cook, executive director of all R friends
those requiring less hands-on assistance, and a green team, for those requiring more assistance.
“Our blue team is our more independent group: individuals who are very capable of doing a lot on their own,” Cook says. “They do need some assistance … but they’re very quick learners, and they’re very capable.”
While attending the day program at the organization, those in the blue team will learn life skills, including those necessary to live independent
Participants of all R friends at the Gahanna facility
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of parents or family members; those tasks include doing laundry, cleaning houses and managing money. Many are also being prepared for future employment.
“One of the things we work on with the blue team are employment skills—helping them figure out what it means to have a job, what kind of job they might want, what skills they need to have to have that job,” says Cook, whose organization also helps individuals with such practical things as preparing a resume and learning to apply for jobs.
Because of a contract maintained with Gahanna-based radio station 104.9 The River, all R friends is able to match individuals who wish to work with an initial employment experience at the radio station.
“We clean that [radio station] building with our crew,” Cook says. “We have three individuals that go with a job specialist. It’s a three-story building, and we clean all three levels.”
The organization then helps individuals navigate the job market, with an emphasis on identifying local employment opportunities to avoid transportation challenges. Grocery stores have long been receptive to working with those in the all R friends program, Cook says.
“These individuals have great work ethics,” Cook says. “Our members are consistent: They show up on time every single day; they almost never call off.”
Even after an individual has found a job, all R friends continues to support that person as they navigate other
Far left: Creative Options’ owner Danielle Abel shakes Mayor Laurie Jadwin’s hand, alongside employees Fallon Kline and Shoko Yoshitake.
goals in their life.
“We’ll take them out into the community, when they’re at the day program, to different places in Gahanna,” Cook says. “Here’s the movie theater at Stoneridge you can schedule things at; here’s a nursing home you can volunteer at.”
Also located in Gahanna is Creative Options, which has been open for about a year.
“We service adults with developmental or physical disabilities within about a 10- to 12-mile radius of our building,” says Fallon Kline, program director of Creative Options.
The organization offers a day program on-site, which offers programming to help further a person’s educational and other skills to encourage independence.
“We want our individuals to be able to have the goals that they set for themselves for the year, and then we try to build around that,” Kline says. “A lot of [the individuals] have fitness goals, or health and hygiene goals.”
A second, newer program is dubbed the “community inclusion program,” in which an individual will spend a portion of the day on-site but then be transported to a specific destination in Gahanna.
“They then go out and spend the entire day in the community working with different businesses and organizations,” Kline says. “They do volunteer work with them. They’re building those types of connections. It’s also a way for them to see: ‘Hey, I really like this. I might want to work here.’ ”
Creative Options also forges relationships with local organizations or businesses, with the goal of enabling an individual to find employment.
“We had an individual who used to work at a movie theater, and a lot of those jobs were cut out for our members when COVID hit,” Kline says. “[This person] suggested, ‘Hey, can we make a connection at a movie theater?’ We were able to do that, and now, [the person] is going to Marcus theater every Friday and doing concession work and handing tickets out.”
The organization praises the city of Gahanna for their support of, and enthusiasm for, the work they are doing.
“We had a great open house,” Kline says. “The mayor came and talked to us. We’ve had connections with the city.”
Although the organization hopes to expand to additional sites, its home base has been a great launching pad.
“Gahanna has been a really good [place] to start out in,” Kline says.
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PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA
CREATING SUCCESS STORIES
Gahanna schools are excelling in academics and beyond.
By Mandy Shunnarah
Many Gahanna newcomers are drawn to the community because of its robust schools. For instance, the local school district is investing more than $250 million in capital improvements. As the Columbus metro area continues to grow following developments like the nearby $20 billion Intel project, Gahanna is proactively expanding its school footprint.
“We completed the build-out of Blacklick Elementary, adding 10 classrooms, a new gymnasium, extended
cafeteria space, increased small group space, added music and art spaces and, of course, added the capacity that goes along with that,” says Cliff Hetzel, chief operating officer of GahannaJefferson Public Schools. “Then we did the same at High Point Elementary and Middle School East. Our science labs at Middle School East are phenomenal. They’ll be able to do more advanced experiments than ever before.”
But the real pièce de résistance will be the new Gahanna Lincoln High
Superintendent Dr. Tracey Deagle reading to students
School, where all students from the district’s multiple elementary and middle schools attend upper secondary school. Construction is well underway.
“The new high school will be about 508,000 square feet with about 130 learning spaces. We’ll have a gym, field house, a performing arts center, and we’ll have a walkthrough from the entrance of the building that leads to the new stadium,” Hetzel says. “There’ll be flexibility and scale in this new building to be able to move things around and do what we need to do to have small and large groups together.”
More than merely accommodating the need to serve more students, each element of the new high school was created using a forward-thinking design process. The project includes advanced tech amenities such as robotics, while also increasing the size of the fabrication lab and the school’s media space. In addition, the project will add a location for the EastlandFairfield Career Center, where students will learn about such professions as bioscience, teaching and sports medicine. “We’re looking at greater flexibility, greater collaboration opportunities, greater tech integration, access for
everyone, so everything is being built for tomorrow,” Hetzel says.
What’s more, Gahanna Lincoln High School has a history of producing creatively successful students. Mark Lowrie, who was named Ohio Teacher of the Year for 2024, runs Lincoln Live, a TV news show run by students that has received several national student Emmy Awards. And the district’s investment in its theater program is one of the things that drew theater teacher Aileen Targett to lend her talents to the school. Before feeling the call to teach, Targett lived in New York City, acting in several off-Broadway productions, and went on three national tours with a company that performed shows for students such as the musical, “Eureka!”
“In the fall, we do a haunted house, a fall play and a holiday marathon where all the theater classes write holiday skits. Then in the spring, we do a dinner theater [and] a children’s theater tour to take ‘Seussical Jr.’ to the elementary schools,” Targett says. “Then we have ‘Varsity Varieties,’ ‘Miscats’ and our spring musical, which has more than 100 kids involved.”
Theater students also benefit from seeing successful alumni. Targett’s husband, whom she met when they both got the gig touring nationally, is a GLHS graduate, as is Mike Faist, who was the originating actor for the character Morris Delancey in the Disney musical “Newsies” on
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GAHANNA-JEFFERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Broadway and the originating actor for the character Connor Murphy in the Broadway play “Dear Evan Hansen.” The latter earned him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor. Faist also played the role of Riff in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” earning accolades for his performance. Next, Faist will co-star with Zendaya and Josh O’Connor in the highly-anticipated film “Challengers.”
Theater isn’t the only outlet that can help students grow and become more confident. Just ask senior linebacker Jaymi Curtis, who has been playing football in Gahanna since middle school. As the only girl on the high school team, Curtis embodies Gahanna’s slogan, “Your unique story begins here.”
“It wasn’t really a heroic story like everyone assumes it would be,” Curtis says. “At Gahanna, you can’t start playing a school-sanctioned sport until seventh grade, so that year, that was all my guy friends could talk about. I was like, ‘Y’all are having so much fun, I want to play, too!’ One of my guy friends encouraged me, so I went for it.”
Curtis hopes other girls will follow in her foot (or cleat) steps.
“To any little girl out there who wants to play football or do anything, once you put your mind to it, you can do it,” she says.
And those future athletes won’t have to wait much longer.
“Every day, I see more of the construction work being done on our new Gahanna Lincoln High School, and it gets me increasingly excited to see what lies ahead for all the students in our district,” says Dr. Tracey Deagle, superintendent of Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools.
Hetzel adds: “This high school has the ability to hold 2,800 students, and when we’re finished, we’ll even have a third-floor section that can be developed to add to capacity in the event we get an enrollment spike.”
Given the attractiveness of Gahanna’s schools and the area’s growth, it’s only a matter of time before that third floor is put to use and even more kids get to write their own success stories.
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