Consultants and members of the FairOaks Community Development Corp. have unveiled a vision for what the future could hold for the FairOaks Mall and Donner Center, capping off nearly seven months of analysis and public input.
A glimpse — including conceptual diagrams and recommendations that could serve to inform future design and planning for what types of facilities may eventually be built on the two properties, phasing recommendations for facilities and the next steps in the project — was presented Tuesday evening.
About 80 people were at the session at the mall, which was the fourth and final public information session for the FairOaks project.
The project seeks to transform FairOaks Mall into a community wellness, recreation and sports center, and determine new potential uses for the Donner Center and connectivity with the surrounding areas. The city partnered with Columbus Regional Health and the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to purchase the 35.36-acre mall property at 25th Street and Central Avenue for $5.9 million in December 2018.
During the meeting, officials from MKSK and one of their consultants, Perkins+Will, gave a roughly one-hour presentation on some of their recommendations to the city, which include:
- Tearing down and rebuilding Donner Center near the building’s footprint.
- Expanding aquatics at Donner Center.
- For the mall property, potential adaptive recreation spaces, retail and food and beverage facilities, group fitness rooms, Columbus Parks and Recreation office spaces and a multipurpose sports fieldhouse on the mall property.
For more on this story, including more information and more photos, see Thursday’s Republic.
