Gahanna Hires Construction Manager for Creekside Flood Mitigation Project
An $80,000 supplemental appropriation funds preconstruction planning while municipal construction dollars remain deferred.
Gahanna City Council has approved an emergency measure to retain Westerville-based CK Construction Group Inc. for the Creekside Flood Mitigation and Plaza Improvements Project, moving to establish construction logistics while local building funds remain deferred.
The legislation authorizes an agreement with CK Construction Group Inc. for preconstruction services capped at $75,567 related to the Creekside project. To fund the preliminary work, council authorized an $80,000 supplemental appropriation from the unencumbered balance of the Capital Improvement Fund. Council waived the second reading of the ordinance.
The pedestrian plaza at Creekside Gahanna paved in red brick, showing stone monuments and mixed-use commercial buildings.
Credit: Sixflashphoto / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Image source
The emergency hiring establishes a dual-track strategy for Gahanna's signature commercial and recreational waterfront along Big Walnut Creek. While the city's draft five-year capital plan allocates no local construction dollars for Creekside in 2027 following a municipal income tax revenue downgrade, city leaders moved urgently to retain a builder to evaluate constructability, test material choices, and establish a Guaranteed Maximum Price ahead of upcoming municipal budget workshops.
Previously, Pique reported that Gahanna halved its income tax growth forecast as remote work squeezed its capital improvement plan, and covered council's amendments to the five-year capital plan ahead of its scheduled final vote.
Balancing Budget Constraints and Preconstruction Urgency
The urgency behind the preconstruction contract contrasts with broader capital spending constraints across the municipality. In a presentation to the Committee of the Whole, Senior Director of Operations Kevin Schultz stated that the city lowered its assumed annual income tax growth rate from 4% to 2% based on 2026 performance and return-to-work changes.
That adjustment lowered projected capital improvement resources by $3.6 million across income-tax-supported accounts, including $1.1 million from the Capital Fund.
Under the draft 2027 capital budget, the Creekside flood mitigation and plaza improvement project received no municipal allocation for 2027. While briefing slides listed estimated total project costs between $23 million and $24 million as officials sought outside grants, updated scoping outlines an estimated $18 million total scope, anchored by roughly $8 million in core flood mitigation along the waterway.
Rather than pausing work until outside financing is secured, city leaders determined that early contractor engagement was needed to prevent project stalls. In June 2023, City Council authorized an agreement with Fishbeck for architectural and engineering services related to the Creekside project. The preconstruction contract allows CK Construction to collaborate with Fishbeck and landscape architecture firm POD Design to evaluate constructability, materials, and staging.
Early planning is also aimed at coordinating logistics with downtown merchants. By planning construction staging and utility access in advance, officials aim to reduce disruptions for businesses that rely on pedestrian foot traffic, particularly before the 2027 summer community event season begins at Creekside Plaza in June.
Selection Process and Guaranteed Maximum Price
Gahanna initiated contractor procurement on May 8, 2026, when the city issued a Request for Proposals for Construction Manager at Risk services, receiving six proposals before staff evaluated and interviewed three shortlisted firms. Based on qualifications, experience, project approach, and cost, the administration identified CK Construction Group Inc. as the preferred firm.
Under the Construction Manager at Risk project delivery model, the builder acts as an advisor during design before committing to deliver the physical project under a guaranteed price ceiling. Under the authorized agreement, Phase 2 construction services and the associated Guaranteed Maximum Price remain subject to subsequent approval by City Council.
A Guaranteed Maximum Price will be established during preconstruction and presented to City Council for separate authorization through an amendment to the agreement. According to the ordinance preamble, the administration recommended an emergency declaration to allow the firm to begin timely coordination regarding project budgeting, scheduling, and construction logistics to ensure alignment with project goals and the budget.
Upcoming Legislative Milestones
The preconstruction work begins as City Council addresses broader municipal finances. City Council is scheduled to convene Monday, Nov. 2, for a regular meeting and a municipal budget workshop, where elected officials will review operating and capital allocations across city departments.
During earlier deliberations on the capital plan, administrative staff reported that it expects to return to City Council with additional information, likely during one of the first meetings in January 2027. If grant applications and outside funding packages come together, officials plan to present the Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment to council, setting final construction timetables around downtown event programming.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (9)
The legislation authorizes an agreement with CK Construction Group Inc. for preconstruction services capped at $75,567 related to the Creekside project.
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Section 1. The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with CK Construction Group Inc., located at 500 Olde Worthington Road, Suite 200, Westerville, Ohio 43082, for Construction Manager at Risk services related to the Creekside Flood Mitigation and Plaza Improvements Project (FA-20-01), with Phase I preconstruction services in an amount not to exceed $75,567; said agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT A and incorporated herein. Authorization of Phase II construction services and the associated Guaranteed Maximum Price shall be subject to subsequent approval by City Council.
To fund the preliminary work, council authorized an $80,000 supplemental appropriation from the unencumbered balance of the Capital Improvement Fund.
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Section 2. A supplemental appropriation in the amount of $80,000 is hereby authorized from the unencumbered, unappropriated balance of the Capital Improvement Fund (3250) to Account 325.06.550.5505 – Capital Improvement Capital Projects, to fund preconstruction services associated with the project.
Council waived the second reading of the ordinance.
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Section 3. Council hereby waives the second reading of this ordinance.
In June 2023, City Council authorized an agreement with Fishbeck for architectural and engineering services related to the Creekside project.
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WHEREAS, on June 20, 2023, City Council authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Fishbeck for architectural and engineering services related to the Creekside Flood Mitigation and Plaza Improvements Project (FA-20-01); and
Gahanna initiated contractor procurement on May 8, 2026, when the city issued a Request for Proposals for Construction Manager at Risk services, receiving six proposals before staff evaluated and interviewed three shortlisted firms.
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WHEREAS, the City issued a Request for Proposals on May 8, 2026, for Construction Manager at Risk services for the project and received six proposals, of which three firms were shortlisted and interviewed following an evaluation by City staff; and
Based on qualifications, experience, project approach, and cost, the administration identified CK Construction Group Inc. as the preferred firm.
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WHEREAS, based on qualifications, experience, project approach, and cost, the Administration has identified CK Construction Group Inc. as the preferred firm to provide Construction Manager at Risk services; and
Under the authorized agreement, Phase 2 construction services and the associated Guaranteed Maximum Price remain subject to subsequent approval by City Council.
Read supporting passage
Section 1. The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with CK Construction Group Inc., located at 500 Olde Worthington Road, Suite 200, Westerville, Ohio 43082, for Construction Manager at Risk services related to the Creekside Flood Mitigation and Plaza Improvements Project (FA-20-01), with Phase I preconstruction services in an amount not to exceed $75,567; said agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT A and incorporated herein. Authorization of Phase II construction services and the associated Guaranteed Maximum Price shall be subject to subsequent approval by City Council.
A Guaranteed Maximum Price will be established during preconstruction and presented to City Council for separate authorization through an amendment to the agreement.
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WHEREAS, a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction will be established during the preconstruction phase and presented to City Council for separate authorization through an amendment to the agreement; and
According to the ordinance preamble, the administration recommended an emergency declaration to allow the firm to begin timely coordination regarding project budgeting, scheduling, and construction logistics to ensure alignment with project goals and the budget.
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WHEREAS, the Administration recommends waiving second reading and declaring an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare to allow CK Construction Group Inc. to begin timely coordination with the design team regarding project budgeting, scheduling, and construction logistics to ensure alignment with the project's goals and overall budget.
Gahanna Halves Income Tax Growth Forecast as Remote Work Squeezes Capital Plan
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique reported that Gahanna halved its income tax growth forecast as remote work squeezed its capital improvement plan, and covered council's amendments to the five-year capital plan ahead of its scheduled final vote.
Read supporting passage
Gahanna Halves Income Tax Growth Forecast as Remote Work Squeezes Capital Plan
Gahanna Council Amends Five-Year Capital Plan Ahead of Nov. 2 Vote
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique reported that Gahanna halved its income tax growth forecast as remote work squeezed its capital improvement plan, and covered council's amendments to the five-year capital plan ahead of its scheduled final vote.
Read supporting passage
Gahanna Council Amends Five-Year Capital Plan Ahead of Nov. 2 Vote
Committee of the Whole · 2026-09-28
Supporting evidence (4)
In a presentation to the Committee of the Whole, Senior Director of Operations Kevin Schultz stated that the city lowered its assumed annual income tax growth rate from 4% to 2% based on 2026 performance and return-to-work changes.
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Senior Director Schultz stated that the draft 2027 capital budget reflected reduced income tax growth projections. He explained that Director Bury reduced the assumed annual income tax growth rate from 4% to 2% based on 2026 performance, including the effects of return-to-work changes. He stated that this reduction lowered projected resources available for capital improvements by approximately $3.6 million across all income-tax-supported funds, including approximately $1.1 million within the Capital Fund.
That adjustment lowered projected capital improvement resources by $3.6 million across income-tax-supported accounts, including $1.1 million from the Capital Fund.
Read supporting passage
Senior Director Schultz stated that the draft 2027 capital budget reflected reduced income tax growth projections. He explained that Director Bury reduced the assumed annual income tax growth rate from 4% to 2% based on 2026 performance, including the effects of return-to-work changes. He stated that this reduction lowered projected resources available for capital improvements by approximately $3.6 million across all income-tax-supported funds, including approximately $1.1 million within the Capital Fund.
Under the draft 2027 capital budget, the Creekside flood mitigation and plaza improvement project received no municipal allocation for 2027.
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Senior Director Schultz discussed the Creekside flood mitigation and plaza improvements project. He stated that the draft continued to show no 2027 allocation because the City was still developing the funding package, although the slide showed an estimated total project cost of approximately $23 million to $24 million.
During earlier deliberations on the capital plan, administrative staff reported that it expects to return to City Council with additional information, likely during one of the first meetings in January 2027.
Read supporting passage
He stated that staff expected to return to City Council with additional information, likely during one of the first meetings in January 2027.