Washington Square Mall sale potential doubted

INDIANAPOLIS — Washington Square Mall Operations Manager Keith Lee, Jr., told FOX59 that in the six years he’s run the eastside retail site, many people have inquired about buying the property, but no one has put together a serious offer.

”We have had many people who have came, but again, until someone’s name is on the document or until there’s a promissory of actually purchasing, it’s just entertainment.”

Lee said the comments of an Indianapolis City-County Councilor, who said the lawyer representing the owner of the mall told him the property is for sale, came as a surprise and may have overstated the status of the site.

”There’s a lot that has to be done, but at least we know right now from the owner that it is for sale,” said Councilor Michael-Paul Hart. “The top of the line, which I think I’m most excited about and a lot of folks are excited for the potential of, is mixed use where you have living and shops and retail and parks and a trail.”

While Hart and potential suitors may have a grand vision for the mall, right now, Lee said he is focused on making repairs required by the Marion County Public Health Department and renovations inside and out.

”Everything to me right now is cosmetic. Changing, updating lighting. Updating ceiling tiles,” said Lee. ”It’s a million square foot building. That’s a lot of tile and a lot of framing to convert.”

From the outside, the mall appears abandoned.

”We have had many people who actually come in the door and say, ‘Hey, is the mall still open?’ The first thing I respond is, ‘Did you just walk in? If the door’s open, we’re open,” said Lee. ”We’ve had so many people who walked through the door and all it takes is to have a conversation and the only thing that can happen is a yes or no answer, or a maybe or let me think about it.”

Lee said the mall is two-thirds occupied, though large retail anchor space remains empty, and he’s dropped leasing costs to one dollar per square foot.