National Church Residences Breaking Ground on Senior Living Community in Gahanna

National Church Residences is investing $21 million into a new senior community in Gahanna designed to meet the needs of middle-income seniors. Called Walnut Trace, the new community will feature a modern design and 93 independent living apartments with a mix of one- and two-bedroom floor plans for seniors age 55 and older.

Walnut Trace will include numerous amenities that residents will enjoy such as a bistro, fitness center, club room with adjacent lounge bar for hosting resident events, a community room, arts and crafts room, balconies in every apartment so residents can enjoy the outdoors, a library, a general store for sundries, a covered parking garage, and lush landscaping throughout the campus.

“This project furthers National Church Residences commitment to advancing better living for all seniors,” said National Church Residences Senior Vice President of Senior Living, Terry Spitznagel. ”It is important to offer senior living options that include the right mix of amenities and services to meet the unique needs of individuals as they age.”

The onsite staff will be prepared to meet the needs of residents as they evolve. Through a partnership with National Church Residences Senior Services division, the staff will be able to coordinate home care and personal services for residents who need them.

Residents of Walnut Trace also will be able to enjoy the natural surroundings of this location at 389 Olde Ridenour Road, such as the Gahanna Municipal Golf Course, McCorkle and Lower McCorkle Parks, plus they will have direct access to a tree-lined walking trail with a view of the Big Walnut River.

“We want to thank the Gahanna City Council and Mayor Tom Kneeland for their support throughout the early phases of this project,” said Spitznagel, who grew up in Gahanna.

Walnut Trace could not be built without strong local partnerships with Heartland Bank, who provided the $21 million construction loan, general contractor Elford Construction and architectural firm Berardi Partners, Spitznagel added.

The City of Gahanna has been a part of the National Church Residences mission of serving seniors for 42 years, beginning with the development of Stygler Village on Imperial Drive and continuing with Stygler Commons, which opened in 1990 on North Stygler Drive.

This project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2021. Upon completion of Walnut Trace, National Church Residences will have 7,966 units of senior housing spread across 95 communities in our Ohio portfolio.

About National Church Residences

National Church Residences serves more than 42,000 seniors through its array of housing and health care services. The not-for-profit organization is driven by a vision of advancing better living for all seniors, enabling them to remain home for life. With 340 communities in 25 states, it is the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing and the largest manager of service coordinators. The organization also offers residential senior communities, home and community-based services, as well as permanent supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled. For more information, visit us at NationalChurchResidences.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.