Why Washington Square's future doesn't revolve around a mall
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Indianapolis City-County Councilor Michael-Paul Hart presents the Washington Square Vision Plan at the Warren Township school administration building. Photo: Justin L. Mack/Axios
The vision for Washington Square has shifted from saving a mall to building a neighborhood.
Why it matters: After decades of decline, city leaders have a community-backed road map for the far east side shopping center in hand — a key first step toward attracting the developers and financing needed to remake nearly 94 acres.
Driving the news: The vision plan, developed by local architecture firm Schmidt Associates with input from residents, business owners and local stakeholders, was released Monday night to a crowd of nearly 200 people.
The intrigue: The plan imagines Washington Square evolving into a mixed-use district centered on retail, restaurants, recreation, green space and housing rather than another enclosed mall.
Yes, but: Indianapolis City-County Councilor Michael-Paul Hart stressed that the plan is about not locking in a final design, but giving developers, investors and public agencies the information they've been asking for before committing hundreds of millions of dollars to one of Indianapolis' largest redevelopment sites.
- Hart said momentum has accelerated since the mall's majority owner indicated last year that it was open to offers.
- That sparked interest from developers, who asked city leaders for a clear community vision and infrastructure analysis before considering investment.
Between the lines: The push to deliver something new also seemed to have the support of Keith Lee Jr., Washington Square's property manager since 2019 and representative of mall owners Durga Property Holdings.
Catch up quick: When Hart announced his intention to have the site assessed earlier this year, Lee took issue, saying the mall owners were not made aware.
- He also argued that city leaders repeatedly saying that the mall is for sale sent the message that it was already closed for business.
- But Lee was all smiles when Monday's meeting ended, telling Axios, "exciting things are ahead."
Flashback: Opened in 1974, Washington Square was once eastern Marion County's premier shopping destination before years of retail losses, deferred maintenance and changing consumer habits left much of the property vacant.
- Even so, the mall remains open and continues to house businesses, making preservation of part of the existing structure an important part of the concept.
Zoom in: The plan outlines a first phase focused on smaller retail shops, local and multicultural restaurants, and a family fitness and youth recreation center to fill the void left by the Ransburg YMCA closure.
- Future phases could add roughly 250 multifamily housing units, townhomes, expanded retail and public green space after early investment gains traction.
- Plans also envision walking and biking connections to Grassy Creek Park, gathering spaces for festivals and farmers markets, and branding the area simply as "Washington Square" to establish a neighborhood identity beyond the mall.
Reality check: Hart cautioned redevelopment will likely take years and require a complex mix of private investment, tax-increment financing, grants and tax credits.
- "There is no such thing as a benevolent developer," he said, noting public incentives will be essential to making a project of this scale financially viable.
What's next: The vision plan gives city leaders their first investor-ready blueprint, but no developer has been selected and no construction timeline exists.
- The next challenge is turning the community's vision into a financing package and development partnership.