Columbus Monthly Special Section: Gahanna Suburban Section

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WELCOME TO GAHANNA! LOCATED IN THE SHADOW of John Glenn International Airport and minutes from Downtown Columbus, Gahanna offers the perfect mix of accessible largecity amenities and warm suburban comfort.

With its rich heritage (home to one of the first Black country clubs in the nation) and diverse community of 35,000-plus residents, Gahanna prides itself on being welcoming and inviting. Featuring more than 750 acres of parkland with 20-plus miles of trails, strong schools, a thriving business community and a tradition of beloved events, the city offers something for people of all interests and in all stages of life.

Just as the Columbus region is experiencing tremendous growth, Gahanna also is enjoying a period of transition, balancing smart economic growth and community needs with a forwardthinking strategy. Our highest priorities are initiatives intended to enhance the quality of life for our current residents and attract our next generation of residents. For those who are on the move, Gahanna’s growing reputation as a hub for the food and beverage industry has added a new vibrancy to our community. New projects that offer modern housing for both young professionals and seniors, and that add medical and manufacturing jobs to the area, are positioning the city as a leader in mixedused opportunities that will diversify and add to our tax base.

We are positioned for growth in every sense. Whether growing a career, expanding a business or growing a family, Gahanna is a place where everyone can flourish. We are excited about what lies ahead for Gahanna. By working together, we can be certain that the future is bright for our residents, businesses and schools.

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

COLUMBUS SITE MANAGER

Alan Miller PUBLISHER/GENERAL MANAGER

Ray Paprocki

EDITORIAL SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Emma Frankart Henterly COLUMBUS MONTHLY EDITOR

Dave Ghose CONTRIBUTORS

Laurie Allen, Virginia Brown, Nancy Byron, Peter Tonguette INTERN

Tom Hanks

DESIGN & PRODUCTION PRODUCTION/ DESIGN DIRECTOR

Craig Rusnak ART DIRECTOR

Alyse Pasternak ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Betsy Becker

DIGITAL EDITOR

Julanne Hohbach ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITOR

Jack Long

ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Eugene Jackson MULTIMEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES

Tia Hardman, Jackie Thiam PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Rebecca Zimmer

Mayor Laurie Jadwin

EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES

62 E. Broad St. P.O. Box 1289 Columbus, OH 43216

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

INSIDE

4

LIFESTYLES

Get to know the city via its residents

614-888-4567

16 18 CASE STUDY

A look at how Gahanna supports small businesses

BUSINESS

Companies large and small thrive in three main industries

30 38 HOUSING

New-build apartments on the horizon

ON THE COVER: Creekside Plaza | Photo by Alison Colvin - Alison Photo Design

EDUCATION

Growing facilities for a growing district

Gahanna: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section is published by Gannett. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021, 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.

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

3

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LIFESTYLES

FACES OF GAHANNA Get to know Gahanna through the eyes of its residents.

By Peter Tonguette

AMONG THE APPROXIMATELY 35,000 RESIDENTS who call Gahanna home, some have moved to the scenic community for the excellent and growing school system. Others have been drawn by the quick and easy access to other spots in Central Ohio. Most take advantage of its ample amenities, including retail shops, restaurants and parks and recreation. Some have lived in Gahanna their whole lives and have no plans on leaving.

Columbus Monthly spoke with several Gahanna residents about what led them to one of Columbus’ most vibrant suburbs and what keeps them there.

4

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

Chasity Overholt and Kate Sayre After meeting at Ohio University, Gahanna couple Chasity Overholt and Kate Sayre began their lives in Columbus in the Clintonville area.

Looking to make a move, the couple chose Gahanna in part because it was centrally located between their two jobs.

“I wasn’t super-excited to move to the suburbs when we first came here,” says Sayre, 34, who works in financial services. A Pittsburgh native who moved to Columbus after college, she wasn’t sure about leaving urban life behind.

Yet after renting an apartment in Gahanna for two years, Overholt and Sayre decided to take the plunge into home ownership—and stay in their new favorite suburb. “Gahanna really fit,” Sayre says.

When Overholt, 33, saw the house they ultimately purchased, she says, “I was like, ‘This is it.’ I just had this picture of what I wanted our house to look like, and it worked out perfectly.”

By then, the couple had already gained an appreciation for Gahanna’s unique mix of small-town vibes and hip places to go and things to do.

“Creekside is really nice,” says Overholt, a Granville native who is employed by a nonprofit organization that works with children with autism.

“There are lots of fun breweries that are popping up all over the Gahanna/ New Albany area.”

“When we bought our house, we moved into a neighborhood [where] our neighbors are like our family,” Sayre says. “We spend every weekend with our neighbors, and we love our neighborhood and our community. Everybody is so supportive and so friendly.”

And, when they get the itch to do some exploring around other parts of Central Ohio, so many destinations are a hop, skip and jump—or, at least, an Uber ride—away. “[Gahanna] has kind of a smalltown feel while being so close to a bigger city that you can live in the best of both worlds,” Sayre says. “I absolutely love living here.”

PHOTO: TIM JOHNSON

Kate Sayre and Chasity Overholt with their dog, Monte

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Don Earl

PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

Tim Fleischer For Gahanna resident Tim Fleischer, the ideal place to live should be a mixture of urban and rural.

The rural part is easy to understand: Fleischer, 36, is the city horticulturalist for Gahanna Parks & Recreation and, even during his time away from the job, he is drawn by the abundance of parkland and trails, many abutting Big Walnut Creek.

“That just lends itself to all kinds of different adventures that you can get in,” says Fleischer, who, with his wife, Megan, and 5-year-old daughter, Amelia, lives near the Creekside area. Fleischer and his wife moved to Gahanna in 2015.

“You can take a hike through some woodland trails, you can ride a bike, you can fish, you can kayak,” he says of the area.

Prior to moving to Gahanna, Fleischer lived in German Village. He liked the neighborhood, but was drawn to the suburbs in search of a more affordable house that could hold a growing family.

In Gahanna, Fleischer found not only plenty of outdoor experiences, but a vibrant urban core in the Creekside District.

“We have that little bit of an urban, walkable feel, without being in the city,” he says. “There’s ice cream.

There’s barbecue. There’s tacos. There’s American food. ... Everything that you might need to spend a morning or an afternoon.”

Also appealing is the city’s proximity to Downtown and to the John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

“Never take for granted being close to the airport,” he says. “Any other friends that I have who live in the Columbus area ... come to our house, leave their car and then we take them to the airport, because we live 3 minutes [away].”

Yet, when all is said and done, it’s the chance to explore Gahanna’s scenic beauty that keeps the young family in the suburb.

“We live very close to one of these trailheads, just adjacent to the creek,” he says. “You know how kids are when they get around creeks with rocks.”

You might call Don Earl a Gahanna lifer.

Born and raised in the city, the 84-year-old retiree says, “The only time I was away from here was in the [military] service and in college. I’ve been here all my life.”

Earl and his wife, Sue, another lifelong Gahanna resident, raised two children in the suburb; their son Tom recently retired as a math teacher at Gahanna Lincoln High School.

“It has everything that we ever wanted,” Earl says. “The schools are excellent for our children to go through.”

A local business owner, Earl owned and operated Earl Auto Parts from 1968 until 1992, when he sold the company; he later took it over again.

“We have nice businesses here,”

he says. “You don’t need to go anywhere. Anything you want to do, you can do right here. ... I like to say that we shop local places rather than going out to other places.”

For Earl, that includes golfing: With his son, he often takes to the course at Gahanna Municipal Golf.

“My ability, distance and everything has lessened quite a bit with age, but we enjoy playing,” says Earl, who now works part-time at the nearby Jefferson Golf & Country Club in Blacklick.

Like many Central Ohio snowbirds, Earl and his wife head south four months out of the year, but the rest of the time, there’s no place like home.

“It’s just a nice, comfortable community,” he says.

Don Earl with Gahanna Municipal Golf Course employee Mary Moss GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

5

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Eric Miller

A native of Wilmington, Ohio, Sierra Purtee moved to Westerville at age 12—but, even during her adolescence, wondered if she might one day live in Gahanna.

“It had always been a dream of mine to live in Gahanna,” says Purtee, 32, who, with her 15-year-old son, Ryan, and 7-year-old daughter, Evangeline, finally made the move just as the pandemic was beginning in March 2020.

“I loved the atmosphere, the familyfriendly environment, the activities that they did with the kids,” Purtee remembers. “I would actually travel from Westerville to Gahanna to do all their events that they have every year.”

Purtee, who works at the Ashford on Broad assisted living center, wanted to bring the same experience to her own kids.

6

“It takes a village to raise kids, and to be able to have a village that will be there to support you and your kids [is wonderful],” Purtee says. “It sounds kind of clichéd, but you have this picture of how wonderful [suburbia] is, and truly, it really is that way in Gahanna.”

Two summers in, her children are taking full advantage of the offerings: Evangeline attended a Parks & Recreation camp this past summer, while Ryan worked as a lifeguard at pools in Gahanna.

For her part, Purtee was able to make an impact in her new community when Ashford on Broad partnered with Gahanna to provide free meals to area seniors every Friday. “While some people may not have been hurting for the food, it was a blessing to them to even be able to not have to worry about cooking dinner that night,” she says.

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

Sierra Purtee

In 1975, when Columbus native Eric Miller was looking for a house to raise a family, a Realtor friend pointed him to Gahanna. It was a pretty small town then, but Miller and his wife, Sharon, saw the potential.

“I thought, ‘Wow, this seems like a nice house and a nice area, and it’s affordable,’ ” says Miller, 72, a sales representative for Cutter & Buck sportswear.

The family—which grew to include three children, all graduates of Gahanna Lincoln High School—started off on the west side of town and then migrated to the east side, but other than that, they’ve stayed put. His wife, a retired teacher, now is a substitute teacher in Gahanna.

“I’m 20 minutes from Downtown,” Miller says. “I’m 20 minutes to [Ohio State University’s] campus.”

Beyond the convenience, though, the family gravitated to the close-knit vibes of a town that, when the Millers first moved there, had about 16,000 residents.

“My kids felt safe; they would just ride their bikes to Olde Gahanna,” he says. “My kids played sports. ... I coached soccer and basketball and baseball.”

Over the years, Miller is one of many Gahanna residents to invest time and energy into making the community even better.

“I’ve been involved with the Parks department for over 30 years,” he says. “When I first started, really the only park we could go to was Friendship Park, and now we have over 32 parks.”

Those parks—not to mention 20 miles of leisure trails, a dog park, a skateboard park and a nature preserve— can’t be quantified when considering the area’s appeal.

“It’s all about the quality of life,” says Miller, who points out that, far from being a sleepy burg, Gahanna has plenty of events to keep things lively.

“You get hundreds of people down at Creekside at the Blues and Jazz [Festival],” he says. “I don’t have to drive all the way to Downtown Columbus. ... I can see great entertainment 5 minutes from my house.”

Grow with Us in Gahanna.

Whether you’re raising a family, building your career or adventuring on the weekends — discover how you can Grow in Gahanna.

Work:

Live:

Play:

• Close to John Glenn International Airport

• Close to downtown Columbus

• Home to some of Columbus’ newest breweries

• Major corporations include Donatos, Kemba Financial Credit Union, ADB Safegate, and McGraw-Hill

• Highly desired school system

• Minutes from Easton Town Center, the Midwest’s Rodeo Drive.

• One of Columbus’ most diverse suburbs

• 20 miles of bike/walking trails

• Easy access to 670 and 270

• 750+ acres of parkland

Gahanna.gov

• The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Concerts, Drive-in Movies, Holiday Lights, Gahanna Goblin Trail & more!

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CASE STUDY

BREWING SUCCESS Gahanna proves to be a boon for new businesses like Crafted Culture Brewing Co.

By Laurie Allen

8

Anthony “Sizzle” Perry Jr.

From the beginning, Perry has shared ideas and visions with the city’s mayor, police chief and other leaders. “Gahanna is small enough that you can easily get into these conversations,” he says. “They didn’t just accept us; they welcomed us. We’re here, and it’s working.”

He marvels at the way Crafted Culture has evolved organically in the brief time it’s been open. “We have these waves coming in. Tuesday, we’re all ‘nerded up’ and playing trivia; Sundays we have dudes with brims and beards; Saturday nights, it feels like you’re in a club.” During a Star Wars tribute, “it was like Comic-Con in here,” Perry jokes.

No matter what day you visit, he says, “when you walk through the doors, it should feel like family.”

Perry’s “band of brothers” encouraged and challenged him as he faced serious setbacks in his quest. One reminded him that he was

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

not at all a stranger to ZIP code 43230. He lived with his grandparents in Gahanna during a critical time in his life, so he might consider it “coming home” after all. “They got tired of me complaining and said, “Why don’t you make the best of a bad situation?”

Despite his doubts, when the Kindred site became available, Perry says, “I had nothing else at the moment. I wasn’t working when COVID hit; I was just scrapping it out.” But he did have years of experience in the industry, and after facing his fears about being “the first penguin off the ledge,” he told himself, “I can make this work. ... At some point in our lives, self-talk becomes important.”

Reflecting on the journey that led him to Morrison Road, he says, “I’m one of the luckiest people ever. My friends have told me I couldn’t have found a better location than where I am now. ... Gahanna has indeed been a blessing in disguise.”

PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

ANTHONY “SIZZLE” PERRY JR. never saw himself opening Central Ohio’s first Black-owned brewery in a Columbus suburb.

He had set his sights on the inner-city neighborhoods he and his friends knew so well.

“My mission was East Columbus, not a northeastern suburb,” Perry says of his vision to bring craft beer culture to minority communities. Circumstances and a change in perspective, however, led him to Gahanna, where he and his business are thriving.

Perry owns Crafted Culture Brewing Co., which opened last February on the site of the former Kindred Brewing on Morrison Road.

Although Gahanna isn’t where he intended to be, he is learning that his journey embodies the saying, “bloom where you are planted.”

“I am flabbergasted by what we’ve accomplished,” says Perry, a father of five and Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan.

By mid-August, Crafted Culture was already at 60 percent of its projected first-year sales, had hired 12 minority bartenders and helped push more than six figures of income to other minority-owned businesses that use its venue for pop-up events.

For Perry, cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion is as important as brewing beer.

The company’s tagline, “Be(er) the Change,” reflects his mission to see and do things differently. His consumers are not only Black people who appreciate crafted beer, but also women, members of the LGBTQ community and any member of a minority group who has felt uncomfortable in their surroundings.

He appreciates the support he has received for his mission in Gahanna. “As a company founded with the intention of helping promote equity and inclusion, the opportunity to work with community leaders has given us comfort in knowing that the city we do business in is rooted in similar ethics to our own,” he says.

ADVERTISEMENT

Garyn K., Member Since 2017

Reid G., Member Since 2017

Walter G., Member Since 2012

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION

Wright-Patt Credit Union How does WPCU support its clients? WrightPatt Credit Union (WPCU) provides our members and the residents of the communities we serve with the best tools, resources and services to meet their financial needs at every stage of life.

What unique services set WPCU apart? At WPCU, we understand our members and those in the communities we serve have financial goals they would like to achieve. WPCU wants everyone to have the flexibility to weather storms and challenges they are faced with and the freedom to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. We help our members and those in the communities we serve learn how to save better, spend wisely, borrow smarter and plan for the future no matter where they are on their financial journey.

How does WPCU differ from traditional banks?

Credit unions exist to serve their members rather than make revenue for their investors. Our “stakeholders” are the people who live, work and play in the areas we serve. They are our neighbors, the fans sitting in the bleachers next to us cheering on a Little League baseball game, fellow co-workers, and local employers. We help our members and those in the communities we serve find ways to save better, borrow smarter, and learn a lot so they can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pocket. You get it all at WPCU—better value, trusted expertise, and extraordinary service.

How many member centers do you have? WPCU serves central and southwest Ohio. We currently have 34 member centers with seven located in Columbus.

To find a nearby location, visit WPCU.coop/Locations.

Clintonville 3134 N. High St. Gahanna 1317 N. Hamilton Rd. Graceland 30 Graceland Blvd.

Grandview Yard 860 W. Third Ave. Lane Avenue 1761 W. Lane Ave. Reynoldsburg 6525 E. Main St. Short North 1010 N. High St.

WPCU.coop (800) 762-0047

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

10

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BUSINESS

GOOD FOR BUSINESS Support from city leaders and the community helps companies large and small to thrive.

PHOTO: TIM COURLAS/COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

By Virginia Brown

MORE THAN A CENTURY AND A HALF after being founded where three waterways converge into one, Gahanna still offers a convenient crossroads. With easy access to John Glenn Columbus and Rickenbacker international airports, 40 different air freight carriers between both airports, plus access to the Columbus & Ohio River Railroad and more than 150 truck lines in the county, Gahanna is good for business.

In 2020, despite the effects of a global pandemic, the city realized $89.5 million in capital investments and created or retained 709 jobs, according to Carrin Wester, communications manager for the city.

“Gahanna continues to focus on the needs of our local businesses to retain and grow opportunities locally,” she says. “This includes competitive tax-exemption incentives on development, identifying creative financing solutions through our partner agencies … and continuing to advance partnerships in workforce development.”

And it’s those crucial needs that keep three of Gahanna’s key industries—food and beverage, fintech, and construction—competitive.

“What really separates Gahanna from our peers is our business success stories,” Wester adds. “Companies locate and expand here because they find place and opportunities here; they remain here because we invest in our companies as much as our companies invest in our community.”

The taproom at Edison Brewing Co.

Food and Beverage Gahanna mainstay Donatos Pizza is one such success story.

Founded in 1963 by Jim Grote, the company now boasts 169 franchise- or company-owned restaurant locations in 10 states;

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

11

A rendering of High Bank’s new location in Gahanna, expected to open next spring

12

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

the pies also can be found at 143 Red Robin restaurants, 10 sports and entertainment venues, and 1 REEF Neighborhood Kitchen.

In all, Donatos sells slices in more than 300 locations across 21 states.

The company’s home office and bakery relocated to Gahanna in 1992, in line with its franchise growth, according to Donatos PR and communications manager Dave Parsons. “The area was extremely convenient for us from a distribution standpoint, with easy access to the interstate and the airport,” he says. “Other businesses and industries were starting or growing in the area, and it felt like a great fit to us.”

Chief financial officer Doug Kourie also points to a solid community with good schools and housing options, which are needed to attract a quality workforce.

Another tenet of Gahanna leadership, according to Kourie: proactivity. “The city comes out annually to meet with us,” he says, citing a recent need for frozen storage solutions, which the city helped remedy. “They’re businessfriendly,” he adds. “If we ever call … anybody, all the way up to the mayor, [they] will call back.”

In 2020, Donatos’ annual revenue was over $203 million, and the company employed

PHOTO: COURTESY HIGH BANK DISTILLERY CO.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ng

, designing, lling ren e s , ov iy ng at i bu

e

enc

r th

c

ove

yo ur Ho me

nishing. fur or

Dis

h rS ou Visit

5,000 associates systemwide (including 1,856 associates in Central Ohio). “We are really pleased to have made that decision [to come here],” says Parsons, “and we enjoy being part of the Gahanna community.”

Donatos isn’t the only longstanding food-andbeverage company that calls Gahanna home.

Other companies based in the city include Kahiki, a longtime supper-club-turned-frozenfoods-brand, which made its headquarters in Gahanna in 2000. Others, like nutrition-forward cocktail mixer company Simple Times Mixers or Noble Cut Distillery, are newer on the scene but no less appreciative of what the city has to offer.

“Gahanna offers a unique ecosystem for businesses: It still has a small-town feel, yet it’s big enough to sustain small to mid-sized companies,” says Noble Cut owner Tony Guilfoy. The distillery has been located in Gahanna for six years.

Simple Times Mixers was founded in 2017 and moved to Gahanna in 2019. “We had an already-established collaborative network in the Gahanna area with businesses like Noble Cut [Distillery], where we zest our fruit for their limoncello products,” says founder Mark Tinus. “When it came time to establish our own production site, it was important to have the room to grow into even larger sites, and Gahanna provided a great set of industrial parks that had ample space to grow. We felt like the area and community were safe and provided a great atmosphere for our team members.”

Guilfoy agrees. “Everyone, from the city councilmembers to the chamber of commerce to the mayor, knows our names and regularly visits or talks to us to ask what we need now or in the future. [They] have our best interests in mind and continually support our growth.”

Gahanna was an attractive site for High Bank Distillery Co. as well, which recently announced plans to open a new, 7,500-square-foot facility that will feature a full-service bar and restaurant, barrel storage, a retail store, elements of the brand’s distillery operation and a large outdoor patio.

The Grandview-based brand’s second location is expected to open in spring 2022 at 1379 E. Johnstown Road.

Wil Schulze, owner of Edison Brewing Co., began conversations with Gahanna city officials in 2017, when he found the parcel of land he wanted to buy to open a business park and brewery. His real estate development company, Franklin Peak, purchased the land from the City of Gahanna and built the office park.

Whet her you ar e

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

e N th Degre

er f f i eD r

ow or ro f om ion t Fille d a r i with Insp

57 57 Granville Grra Gra Gr anv nvviille nvi lllle le St, St, Gahanna, St Ga aha ah ha h an nna nn na n a, OH OH 43230 43 4323 32 323 23 2 30 | 614.855.8533 61 614 6 14.85 14 ..8 85 8 55 5..8 5.8 .853 .85 533 5 33 | nthliving.com 33 nttth n nth hliv liliv ivin ing ing ng.co com co

@nthdegreecompanies @nt @ @n @nthde nt nthde hdegre hd grrre g ee ecco eco ompa mp mp pa an nie ies

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

13

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Education To become more knowledgeable voters and more effective activists Activism To communicate our message, elect candidates, lobby for legislation, and turnout the vote Collaboration To work with like-minded people, organizations and causes in Central Ohio CONTACT US E: gahannademocratsandfriends@gmail.com | P: (614) 342-0089 f gahannadems

Subscribe or renew your annual subscription to Columbus Monthly for $18.

Go to columbusmonthly.com or call (760) 237-8505.

14

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

Why Gahanna? It’s simple, Schulze says: “You have proximity to all the major things that you need in the city; costs of things are reasonable; we have access to labor; and the city is very accommodating.”

In addition to hosting companies like IJUS engineering consultants and SPIDA Software, the four-story Franklin Peak building also boasts the brewery and a rooftop event space called The Peak at Edison.

It’s positioned to soak in the sunset, and, given its proximity to John Glenn Columbus International Airport, watching planes take off and land is part of the scenery.

“The site is a destination for people from around the country,” Schultze says. “Edison is a host for a national recreational vehicle membership that allows them to stop and stay for a night. In addition, we have been a top spot for locals to bring friends and family when visiting to see the city,” he says, adding that a couple from Minnesota came through recently on their way to Cincinnati.

“Our location was built to bring people to Gahanna,” he says.

Construction The business of building is also an integral component of the Gahanna business community.

The Superior Group, a national electrical and technology engineering and construction firm, provides the design, construction, service and maintenance services necessary to execute some of the most demanding projects in the industry.

With offices in Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Charlotte and Raleigh, The Romanoff Group also makes its headquarters in Gahanna. Since 1981, the company

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

Subscribe to

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

82 North High St., Gahanna, Ohio 43230 614.414.2065 hello@gahannasanctuary.org www.gahannasanctuary.org

Create your own history at the Gahanna Sanctuary

A branch of KEMBA Financial Credit Union

has provided electrical and heating and cooling services nationwide.

Fintech Another company with roots in Central Ohio is KEMBA Financial Credit Union, which has called Gahanna home since 2006.

Founded in 1933 for The Kroger Co. employees (the KEMBA acronym stands for Kroger Employee Mutual Benefits Association), the credit union was originally located inside the Kroger Bakery in Downtown Columbus and relocated to Whitehall in 1971.

In 2006, Kemba moved to its current home in Gahanna, where it employs 176 of its 262 employees. KEMBA boasts over $1 billion in assets, with roughly 120,000 members.

Currently led by Mark Decello, president and CEO, the company has 10 branches across Central Ohio, with online and mobile banking, telephone banking and more than 50,000 ATMs. For KEMBA, and other Gahanna fintech companies like BillGo, a real-time bill management and payments platform, it takes a lot of tech—and forward thinking—to thrive.

“Gahanna tends to look toward the near future to see what types of utilities and resources [companies will need],” says Marco Capalino, chief marketing officer at KEMBA. Those resources aren’t limited to basics like water and electricity, he adds, but also include key fintech resources like fiber optics and data transmission. “[Gahanna has] an active chamber of commerce with an active planning committee,” Capalino adds. “The leaders in Gahanna understand the importance of business to a thriving community.”

We focus on your technology — so you can focus on your business.

• Managed Services and IT Support

• Backups and Disaster Recovery Solutions

• Anti-Virus and Spam Protection

• Wireless Networks

• Office 365 Deployment and Management 136 Mill Street — Suite 220 www.dotxtech.com

info@dotxtech.com

614-239-7677 GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

15

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

A cyclist rides among the Cherry Run and Cherry Bottom Gardens neighborhoods.

HOUSING

NEW AND IMPROVED Rental living in Gahanna is about to get a big upgrade.

GAHANNA HAS ALWAYS been a desirable location to live, given its easy highway access, close proximity to John Glenn Columbus International Airport and vast amounts of parkland.

Those looking for single-family homes have traditionally found many options, even despite the recently tight market.

“Gahanna is a wonderful city that offers so many different styles of homes at every price point,” says Jason Brewer, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty in Gahanna.

“You can find new homes and historic homes. It really is what makes this city unique and lends to the overall charm.”

16

“We have starter homes, patio homes, condos,” adds Theresa Emch, a Realtor with Keller Williams Capital Partners and a lifelong Gahanna resident. “Gahanna is such a diverse community. It’s a great place to call home.”

Yet rental options, which comprise about 30 percent of the housing market in Gahanna, have been lagging a bit behind owner-occupied properties in the new-build category.

According to the City of Gahanna, only 30 percent of all housing units in the city were built after 1990, meaning 70 percent are more than 30 years old. That’s about

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

to change, however, with the upcoming construction of two new, multifamily developments breaking ground next year.

The Everett, which is being developed by Big Sky Realty, will feature 60 apartments on 2.65 acres along West Johnstown Road.

“There is a very limited supply of newer multifamily properties in Gahanna,” says Mitch Rubin, owner and principal broker of Big Sky Realty.

In the past two years, Big Sky has redeveloped two aging apartment complexes near Creekside in the heart of Gahanna—one with 32 units, the other with 12. The Everett

PHOTO: TIM COURLAS/COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

By Nancy Byron

PHOTOS: TOP, TIM COURLAS/COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA; BOTTOM, COURTESY CITY OF GAHANNA

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

will mark the company’s first new-build residential development in the community.

“Gahanna went years without any new construction, which has led to a significant shortage of [rental] housing options,” Rubin says. “Without new construction, we end up with an unbalanced housing stock. New developments, such as The Everett, help create much-needed housing for the influx of new residents coming to the Columbus region.”

The Everett is scheduled to break ground in the spring of 2022 and take 12 to 15 months to complete. It will include in-unit washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, private outdoor spaces and a fencedin dog park with artificial turf.

“We are excited to bring a higher-end option to our residents,” Rubin says.

About 3 miles southeast of Big Sky’s development, in a wedge-shaped tract known as Crescent at Central Park, Canini Associates and Casto Communities are teaming up to build a large residential complex as part of the 112-acre multiuse development.

A total of 240 units will be built on 14.4 acres, divided between townhouses and garden apartments. Construction will begin in early 2022 and take roughly two years to complete, according to Brent Sobczak, president of Casto Communities.

“All units will have outdoor space and our standard finishes, with granite countertops and a lot of attached garages,” Sobczak says. “We’ll also have a fitness center and pool, but the emphasis will be on the outdoor space and activities.”

More than 30 acres of open parkland have been set aside along the south side of Crescent, which would more than double the size of adjacent 23-acre Pizzurro Park.

Larry Canini, owner of site developer Canini Associates, says several options for developing the open parkland area along Big Walnut Creek have been discussed, including an

Rendering of The Everett

Gahanna offers housing options for every stage of life.

amphitheater, environmental studies center, playground and trails.

“Some of the unique features built into Crescent at Central Park are the walkability, the outdoor space and the connectivity to the park at the south,” Sobczak says.

The larger Crescent community, which already includes a medical office and wellness center, will also have retail space, restaurants, office space, hotels and an event center, Canini says.

“Gahanna has been lacking, over the last 10 years, a newly built residential component to serve the younger workforce and those empty nesters who are looking for a quality rental option,” says Canini. “All the options for that had been outside the city boundaries. We believe the Casto Crescent project will provide just that and hopefully spur others to do [similar projects].”

That increased diversity in residential units will have a pronounced effect on the Gahanna population, Sobczak predicts. “Trying to attract and maintain a diverse workforce requires different housing options,” he says.

“There are people who want to work and live in their community.”

Having a variety of housing options at a variety of price points is vital to any city, Emch adds.

“Businesses are constantly looking for communities that have housing options for employees,” she says. “Having affordable options provides a sense of security. People are happier, healthier and want to stay and invest back in their community.”

Having more competition in the rental market could also be a plus for potential residents looking in the Gahanna area.

“Competition amongst rental property owners hopefully means better options in terms of pricing and amenities,” Brewer says.

But it’s not just newcomers to Gahanna who will benefit from the Big Sky and Canini/Casto developments and any future, similar projects: Brewer tells of clients looking to downsize who have sold their homes in Gahanna, but still want to remain in the community.

“They want to move into a rental,” he says.

“It is this segment that has been driving up some of the demand for apartments.”

Having more rental units can also draw young couples and professionals into the community.

“You have to remember, renters hopefully will one day turn into home buyers and/or business owners,” Brewer says. “In the end, it’s about balance.”

Like Brewer, Emch has noticed that Gahanna residents often don’t want to move out of the city.

“We have a lot of families who end up passing their homes down through families,” she says, noting she, too, still lives in the neighborhood where she grew up. “I feel like when people move in, they stay. It’s not a couple-year stop.”

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

17

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

18

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EDUCATION

ROOM TO GROW The Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools district greets an influx of new students with welcoming arms and shiny new facilities.

PHOTO: JUDY HENGSTEBECK

By Peter Tonguette

A teacher interacts with students at Blacklick Elementary School.

AT THE BEGINNING of the school year, Beth Davis, a reading specialist who teaches kindergartners through second graders in the newly opened Gahanna Lincoln Elementary School, noticed a crumbled-up yellow sticky note on her desk.

Normally, she might have just thrown the scrap of paper away without reading it, but after the last year and a half of distance and hybrid learning, she couldn’t help herself and had a look.

“It was in a kid’s handwriting, and all it said was ‘thank you,’ ” says Davis, 50, who has spent her entire 29-year teaching career in Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools. A Gahanna native, Davis is the mother of children who also went through the local schools.

“I’m a student myself, the teacher and the parent,” she says.

But back to that note.

“It had a heart and a squiggly little smiley face,” Davis says.

That example of a student appreciating a teacher is emblematic of the atmosphere cultivated by teachers and administrators in the growing school district.

“We’re a big town with a small-town feel, and I think our schools are the same way,” Davis says. “We’re a big school district, but we have a small-town school district feel. We take care of each other.”

Superintendent Steve Barrett says that the district seeks to build relationships with students, parents and families.

“We can’t do that work alone,” Barrett says. “We want kids to have voice and choice in what they learn. ... If we graduate kids with great work ethics, with great character, they’re going to add a lot to the world we live in.”

Reflecting its welcoming ethos, the district embraces the diversity of its student body.

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

19

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Start your

COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY at columbusceo.com.

20

“We have different backgrounds; some of us speak different languages,” Davis says.

“We are different learners with different personalities, and that is a positive thing in Gahanna. I tell my students, ‘There is no one else who can bring what you have to school today but you.’ ” The new Gahanna Lincoln Elementary— which, after opening on Aug. 11, became Gahanna’s first new elementary building to open in 27 years—is a physical manifestation of the district’s energy, excitement and growth.

“We’re right around 7,800 [students], when you include preschool,” says Barrett, who attributes much of the growth to new housing options in nearby Jefferson Township (which, without its own school system, sends some of its students to Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools).

“A lot of the farmland out there that’s no longer being farmed is being developed as we speak,” says Barrett, adding that the excellence of the district is itself a magnet for new residents. “Gahanna schools have been strong for a long time, and we believe that is a big part of the draw to come to Gahanna. Houses here … go on the market, and they’re sold within a couple of hours.”

The new, 82,000-square-foot Gahanna Lincoln Elementary, replacing the old Lincoln Elementary, is home to more than 700 students who are making use of 30 classrooms (including two art classrooms and two music classrooms), a state-of-the-art lunchroom and gymnasium. Other features include a reading garden and two playgrounds.

“One feature we have that is very much new is we have two hallways, one with an extra room, that is called our ‘sensory

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

area,’ ” says Barrett, explains that the spaces provide calming zones for young people who, between the pandemic and other life pressures, can experience anxiety.

“These are places that are sort of calming areas for kids—if they’re having a moment that’s difficult for them, to get them readjusted and to go back and be ready to learn,” he explains.

Davis says that the elementary school staff dubs the new school “Super Lincoln.”

“That’s how we feel about it,” she says.

“It’s so bright, so spacious. It’s colorful. In fact, it’s color-coded by grade level. It’s just buzzing with enthusiasm.”

Yet, acknowledging the surge in new students, school officials stress the importance of assuring that everyone is welcomed into the fold.

“We’re very aware that, when you open a new school, you’re not just inviting new families in and merging them with the current families,” Barrett says. “You’re also building a new school community and the relationships that need to take place to build for a strong school.”

Davis says that relationships are built day by day.

“It starts small,” she says. “You get to know a few [students] at a time.”

As part of a levy voters narrowly passed last fall, a new, nearly 500,000-square-foot Gahanna Lincoln High School will be built in the next few years. The new facility is tailormade for an anticipated 2,800 students.

Leaders agree it’s time for a new school; the oldest parts of the current high school building were constructed 94 years ago.

“It’s going to have a state-of-the-art media center,” Barrett says. “We’re going to build a field house, [which] is a K-12 facility. It’ll

PHOTO: AIMEE AIMER

Cheerleaders and band members celebrate school spirit outside of the newly opened Lincoln Elementary School.

Holiday Fun in Gahanna Holiday Lights Celebration - November 21 Santa Race 5k - December 4 Holiday Scavenger Hunt in Creekside - December Creekside Luminary Walk December 22

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

be primarily used after school by our high school students, but on weekends and throughout the summer, we expect to have our peewee basketball teams, volleyball teams and as many people as we can allow to take advantage of that space.”

Intervention specialist Tracy Dyckman, who works with juniors and seniors with learning disabilities, praises the high school for being closeknit despite its current (and anticipated) size.

“We are very special in the sense that we only have the one high school,” says Dyckman, 43. “Despite the size of our district and the size

of our high school, our community is not divided. …. It does help keep us one gigantic family.”

The new Gahanna Lincoln High School has a projected opening before the 2024-25 school year.

Other projects that are part of Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools’ Phase Two Master Facilities Plan include additions to High Point Elementary, Blacklick Elementary and three middle schools: Middle School South, East and West.

“We’re just so grateful our community gave us permission to do this work,” Barrett

says. “It is very expensive; taxes went up significantly. We need to be accountable to our community to make sure that we’re good stewards with the investments they’ve made.”

But, the way Gahanna is growing, the need remains for the city’s schools to continue to grow along with it.

Barrett points to a demographic forecast that shows that, over the next 10 years, the district will be home to nearly 10,000 students.

“We need to plan for that growth now and build space for our new families that are going to come,” he says.

Privately Held

22

Columbus Academy students record statistics for a multidisciplinary project during a varsity basketball game.

school art club as well as music lessons, according to its website.

But what sets it apart is its unique Outdoor Education Program, which principal Michael Fluhart describes as an eye-opening experience.

“Many of our students come from inner-city Columbus and have never been to the woods,” Fluhart says. “The Gahanna Woods Trail runs through the campus, and we take full advantage of it.”

Shepherd Christian’s tuition is capped at $5,100, and financial aid is available for families who qualify. It has an 18-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

One School dates back to 1980, when it was founded as Evangel Christian Academy

GAHANNA: A COLUMBUS MONTHLY SUBURBAN SECTION NOVEMBER 2021

by Evangel Temple Assembly of God Church, according to its website. It graduated its first high school senior class in 2000 and became Gahanna Christian Academy, a K–12 school, in 2004.

Today it’s aligned with One Church, after rebranding again as One School last year, and serves kindergarten through eighth grade (plus child care and preschool services) with a student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1.

Tuition ranges from $5,500 to $6,000. Its Early Learning Community features a blended classroom for kindergarteners and first-graders, according to its website, and the school has a focus on personalized and project-based learning.

St. Matthew the Apostle, affiliated with the on-site Roman Catholic church of the same name, offers a full-day prekindergarten program alongside kindergarten through eighthgrade education. According to its website, instructional aides are present in all classrooms, and the school’s 29 licensed teachers—50 percent of whom hold a master’s degree—average 14 years of experience.

Students’ curriculum includes Spanish classes, and the school boasts a 1-to-1 Chromebookto-student ratio with Google app integration, according to its website. Extracurricular activities include 10 sports for grades four through eight, drama and ski clubs, and more. The school has a 21-to-1 student-teacher ratio, and tuition is $6,400.

—Tom Hanks Columbus Academy, 4300 Cherry Bottom Road, Gahanna, 614-509-2220, columbusacademy.org; Shepherd Christian School, 425 Hamilton Road, Gahanna, 614471-0859, shepherdchristian. org; One School, 817 N. Hamilton Road, Gahanna, 614471-9270, oneschool.education; St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic School, 795 Havens Corners Road, Gahanna, 614-471-4930, cdstmatthew.org

PHOTO: DORAL CHENOWETH III

While Gahanna’s public school system is robust, the city is also home to four quality private schools: Columbus Academy, serving grades K–12; One School, formerly Gahanna Christian Academy and serving grades K–8; Shepherd Christian School, serving grades pre-K–6; and St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic School, serving grades pre-K–8.

Columbus Academy boasts a 231-acre learning environment and an 8-to-1 studentteacher ratio. Tuition ranges from $25,400 for youngsters entering kindergarten to $30,900 for high school seniors, but financial aid is available to families who qualify.

Grants from the school’s Tuition Assistance Program range from 3 to 97 percent of tuition.

Lauren Leahy, director of admission, praises the school’s familylike atmosphere. She would know—she’s also the parent of two students at the Academy.

“My kids’ teachers know them, and as a parent, it’s important that we’re all on the same page,” she says. “That is part of what makes a place like Columbus Academy so special.”

For parents who prefer a parochial educational environment, Gahanna offers three options.

Shepherd Christian was founded by Shepherd Church of the Nazarene and offers an after-

As a family-owned and operated business, we strive to provide you with dependable electrical services at competitive prices.

synergyelectricalllc.com facebook.com/SynergyElectrical

CD-0006290100-01

Here to Make Your Life a Little Easier in Columbus!

At Wright-Patt Credit Union, we’re

strengthening the communities we serve!

We offer seven convenient Central Ohio locations to serve you!

Clintonville

Lane Avenue

Visit our newest Member Center in Gahanna, featuring:

• Convenient drive-thru services • Dialogue-style teller stations • Community room available to local

business gatherings and community events

Gahanna

Reynoldsburg

Graceland

Short North

Grandview Yard ­

Serving all of Central Ohio! Let’s build

Contact Us in Columbus

stronger communities, together!

Save Better. Borrow Smarter. Learn A Lot! | WPCU.coop | (800) 762-0047 Save Better. Borrow Smarter. Learn A Lot! | WPCU.coop | (800) 762-0047 © 2021 Wright-Patt Credit Union. All Rights Reserved. | Federally Insured by NCUA © 2021 Wright-Patt Credit Union. All Rights Reserved. | Federally Insured by NCUA

Equal Housing Opportunity Equal Housing Opportunity