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COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana city plans to spend about $6 million to purchase a nearly three-decade-old mall for a proposed sports tourism project.
Columbus wants to purchase FairOaks Mall and work with Columbus Regional Health and other partners to turn it into a year-round community recreational center and sports tourism complex.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop tells The Republic the city expects to finalize its $5.9 million purchase of the 35-acre property by December.
The 400,000-square-foot mall opened in 1990 in the city about 50 miles south of Indianapolis, but its customer traffic has fallen significantly in recent years.
Columbus' mall re-use proposal could include an indoor recreation center within the mall space and adding an air-supported domed facility to house indoor softball, soccer, volleyball and other sports.
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