Three firms vying for a contract to transform FairOaks Mall into a year-round recreation and sports tourism complex will make their final pitches on Wednesday and Thursday to the FairOaks Development Corp. Design Committee.
The design firms — MKSK, RATIO and SmithGroup — will give separate two-hour-long presentations on what they propose to do with FairOaks Mall and Donner Center, offering the first public glimpse of the types of facilities possible for the project.
RATIO is scheduled to present its proposal at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the former J Nicole Store space at the mall. On Thursday, MKSK will present at 10 a.m. at the same location followed by SmithGroup at 1 p.m. The presentations are open to the public. However, company officials will be barred from watching their competitors’ presentations.
The firms will be evaluated on cost, project schedule, the firm’s approach, experience, as well as their staff’s qualifications, inclusiveness and diversity, said Tom Brosey, a former Cummins Inc. executive hired as a city consultant to assist with the project.
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The companies are also required to specify how they will work with local educational institutions on the project, offer more details on what they plan to do with Donner Center and provide a percentage breakdown of fees with their partners.
“Ultimately, it’s like looking for job,” Brosey said.
On Thursday night, the FairOaks Community Development Corp. Proposal Evaluation Team, a four-member subgroup of the design committee, will meet to evaluate the proposals and formulate a recommendation for the design committee. The full design committee will meet at 8 a.m. Friday at the old J Nicole Store space at the mall to consider the recommendation, if any, made by the proposal evaluation team.
The design committee will then formulate a recommendation for the FairOaks Community Development Corp. board, the panel that is charged with giving final approval on the firm. The board will consider the design committee’s recommendation, if any, at its April 30 meeting, which will be at 1 p.m. at the former J Nicole Store space. If a firm is approved, the Columbus City Council will consider how to appropriate funds to pay for the city’s portion of the costs at the council’s May 21 meeting.
Brosey said he expects that the city will pay for around 75 percent of the costs of the project and Columbus Regional Health will pay the remaining 25 percent.
In February, the Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation Design Committee invited six firms — Johnson Johnson Crabtree Associates, RATIO, MKSK, Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Ghafari and SmithGroup — to submit development proposals. The firms were asked, among other things, to include parks and recreation facilities, an indoor sports field and health and wellness activities provided by Columbus Regional Hospital in their proposals.
Johnson Johnson Crabtree Associates later withdrew its proposal.
On Dec. 14, the city finalized the purchase of the 35.36-acre mall property at 25th Street and Central Avenue for $5.9 million. The city put up approximately $4 million, or 75 percent of the property’s appraised value.
Columbus Regional Health contributed $1.3 million, or 25 percent of the appraised value. Additionally, the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County committed to providing $450,000, which is the difference between the selling price and the appraised value. Under state law, the city could not pay more than the appraised value.
Brosey said the committee will provide a large screen for the companies to use during this week’s interviews, but he said the companies have been given carte blanche to use their two-hour slots as they see fit. Additionally, the committee has seating available for the public, who will be allowed to ask questions after the presentations.
“I’ve had people express interest in (the interviews),” Brosey said. “We’ll have seating for people to come. But I have no idea how many people will come.”
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The following companies will present proposed plans for renovation of the FairOaks Mall into a recreation and sports tourism complex during two-hour-long presentations on Wednesday and Thursday at the old J Nicole Store space at the mall. The presentations are open to the public.
The schedule is as follows:
- Wednesday: 1 p.m. — RATIO
- Thursday: 10 a.m. — MKSK
- Thursday: 1 p.m. — SmithGroup
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