Some buildings begin with a set of plans.
The Legacy at Richland Commons began with a promise—to complete what one generation started and carry its vision into the next.
The story of Richland Commons began in 2014, when the first apartment building rose from the ground along National Road in Richland Township. From the earliest plans through the first three phases of construction, John Harvey Goodman II personally supervised the development, helping shape it into a residential community known for quality, thoughtful design, and lasting value.
To John, Richland Commons was never simply another construction project. It represented the kind of work he believed in: building something well, caring about the details, and creating homes that would serve the community for years to come.
With each phase, the vision grew.
One building became a community. New residents moved in, neighbors met, and apartments became homes. What began on paper became a place where everyday lives unfolded—morning coffee, family dinners, quiet evenings, celebrations, and new beginnings.
John guided the first three phases, but he passed away before he could see the community’s fourth and final phase completed.
Today, his children, Jay and Emily, continue the work as co-owners of Goodman Properties. When the time came to name the final building at Richland Commons, they knew an ordinary name would not be enough.
This building needed to represent where the community began, the standards on which it was built, and the man whose vision helped bring it to life.
So they named it The Legacy.
The name is not simply a tribute. It is a commitment.
A commitment to finish the community with the same care John brought to its beginning. A commitment to thoughtful construction, quality materials, enduring design, and professional management. A commitment to honor the past while creating something distinctly new for the residents who will call it home.
The Legacy will complete the fourth and final phase of Richland Commons with just 16 two-bedroom, two-bathroom residences. Each approximately 1,096-square-foot home is being designed for comfortable, low-maintenance living, with open-concept interiors, modern kitchens, in-unit laundry, individual heating and cooling, and a private patio or balcony.
But the true meaning of The Legacy cannot be measured only in square feet, finishes, or floor plans.
It can be found in the continuation of a father’s work.
It can be found in two children choosing to carry his standards forward.
And it can be found in the belief that the best way to honor someone’s legacy is not simply to remember what they built—but to continue building with the same purpose.
Four phases. More than a decade of vision. One final building created in honor of the man who helped begin it all.
This is The Legacy at Richland Commons.
Coming 2027. Preleasing now. 📍 46770 National Road W, St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Built on his vision. Continued by his family. Designed to become part of yours.
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Originally published on LinkedIn on July 17, 2026. Republished here from the original article.
Emily C. Shortall, CPM®, ARM®, also known professionally as Emily Goodman Shortall and Emily Shortall, works in commercial and multifamily property management and provides operational advisory and separately engaged expert-witness services. Historical bylines are retained for attribution; they are not a statement of current credential status.