The City of Columbus and Columbus Regional Health are working to secure a new future for FairOaks Mall, which has seen losses of anchor tenants and smaller retail shops in recent years. The main partners in this project are getting an assist from the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, which is providing a needed grant.
The joint effort announced late last month proposes to buy the 35.36-acre property on the city’s north side for $5.9 million and redevelop it for year-round indoor recreation and sports, and make it the new home of the city’s parks and recreation department — moving the offices out of the old and dilapidated Donner Center. Current tenants could stay for at least three years, if they choose, under the proposal.
It’s an interesting idea.
With rapidly changing trends in consumer shopping, FairOaks Mall — which opened in 1990 — is no longer a viable regional retail center. Only about a third of its business spaces are active. The inside the building gives the appearance of a ghost town. Two of its four anchor spaces are empty, and a third anchor store is rented as office space. The vast parking lot is mostly vacant.
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The property is in desperate need of revitalization.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop said the city is trying to be proactive on the property and seize an opportunity before the property’s decline worsens.
Some ideas proposed for the property include:
- An indoor recreation center inside the mall to provide health and fitness opportunities
- Sports medicine opportunities inside the mall
- An air-supported domed facility constructed on the property for sports such as indoor soccer, volleyball and oftball
- Moving the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department to a space inside the mall, possibly the former J.C. Penney location
The idea is to create a community asset for year-round recreation and sports tourism, which has the potential to attract a lot of people.
However, many details are still to come. That includes creating a master plan detailing how spaces in the mall could be utilized, estimates for how many people the repurposed space might attract and expected revenue. Importantly, the Columbus City Council still has to give formal approval and the purchase has to be finalized, although polling of council members indicates that all seven like the concept.
Taking on this project is a big step for the city, one with risk but potentially big rewards.
