The FairOaks Community Development Corp. Design Committee is preparing to recommend a proposed contract with design firm MKSK to help guide the city through the process of defining the future of the FairOaks Mall and Donner Center.
The contract, which totals $212,200, is contingent upon approval by the FairOaks Community Development Corp. Board, which will consider the contract at its May 28 meeting.
“The more I work with MKSK, the better I like them,” said Tom Brosey, a former Cummins Inc. executive the city hired as a consultant for the project. “They’re flexible. They obviously have a high invested interest in the success of this process. They’re enthusiastic. I think it bodes well for the next seven to eight months in terms of working with them.”
MKSK is a collective of architects, urban designers and planners with studios in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis and West Lafayette; Detroit, Michigan; Greenville, South Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Ohio. MKSK was one of three firms that the design committee invited for public, in-person interviews on April 17 and 18.
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Under the terms of the contract, MKSK will conduct a market analysis of the property and engage with the community to help the city decide what kinds of facilities should be offered on the mall site and at Donner Center as part of the city’s efforts to turn the mall into a community wellness, recreation and sports tourism complex. The start date for the project has yet to be determined.
On April 30, the eight-member FairOaks Community Development Corp. Board, which includes Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Columbus Regional Health CEO Jim Bickel, tapped the design firm to help the city test the feasibility of proposed ideas for the project.
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.
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May 28: FairOaks Community Development Corp. Board will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the mall to consider the proposed contract with MKSK.
May 31: The Columbus Parks Board will meet at 2 p.m. to consider appropriating funds under the terms of the contract.
June 4 and June 18: The Columbus City Council will consider appropriating funds under the terms of the contract.
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