Columbus is planning to redevelop the nearly empty FairOaks Mall into a year-round sports recreation and tourism complex. That’s a huge undertaking with a lot involved in it.
One important aspect of this is that local residents can be part of the process.
The FairOaks Community Development Design Committee has chosen three finalists to compete for the contract to redevelop the Fairoaks Mall, which was purchased in December for $5.9 million by the city and Columbus Regional Health, with financial assistance from Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. The three finalists are MKSK, RATIO and SmithGroup.
Each will make a public presentation to the committee, on either Wednesday or Thursday in the mall at the former J Nicole Store space. (Exact times and dates for the presentations were still being finalized at the time this editorial was written.)
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The good news is that the public can have a hand in deciding who the winner might be. Residents will be able to interact with the presenters and committee after the presentations are made, ask questions and share their opinions. That feedback will be instrumental in helping decide which firm would be the best choice to redevelop the mall, and what ideas might be worthwhile or worthless.
This is a significant project for the community, and for it to have great benefit to residents it’s important for residents to make their voices heard. Attending the presentations, listening to the proposals, asking questions and sharing thoughts will help in the final selection and shaping the vision of the project.
A project such as this with little public involvement and feedback would be disappointing.
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