Retrofit Atlas

Malls · Indiana

Lafayette Square Mall

Imported, unreviewedRedevelopedClosedIndianapolis, IN

Opened 1968. Closed 2022. Redeveloped in 2024.

Status nowClosedextracted, unreviewed
documented
The mall closed on August 29, 2022.

en.wikipedia.org

What it becamehousing, office, education, entertainment, retailextracted, unreviewed reported
Site size80 acresextracted, unreviewed
documented
located on an 80-acre (32 ha) site.

en.wikipedia.org

Retrofit year2024extracted, unreviewed reported
Walkability16.8 of 20 · 15-minute 3 of 6EPA, OpenStreetMap
Rail within 800 mNo · Opportunity ZoneOpenStreetMap, HUD
Claim this site Deal kit Reach the owner
More
Download dossier (PDF) · early access Download record (JSON) API Share LinkedIn Correct this record

Solid = from the authors' map · outlined = public source · dashed = model-written, not yet reviewed by a person. Tap any value's source label to see where it came from. documented = a quoted excerpt (click to read it) · reported = a source named, no excerpt yet · no source.

Lafayette Square Mall
Exterior view of a shopping center with prominent signage and architectural details. · verified by a vision model. Photo: Mike Kalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Site profile31 elements · what this site is built with · tap a chip for the evidence

Former anchors
JCPenneyThis site: JCPenney wikipedia · all sites with this
LazarusThis site: Lazarus wikipedia · all sites with this
Macy'sThis site: Macy's wikipedia · all sites with this
SearsThis site: Sears wikipedia · all sites with this
Finance and pipeline
On FacebookThis site: …https://www.facebook.com/597419353735370 overture · all sites with this
Sold since 2020This site: 2021 Sojos Capital Group research-deals · all sites with this
Website aliveThis site: …http://www.shoplafayettemall.com/ overture / http check · all sites with this
Place
3+ other atlas sites within 10 kmThis site: 4 within 10 km computed · all sites with this
30,000+ vehicles a day on an adjacent roadThis site: 70,179 on I-65 fhwa-hpms · all sites with this
Bike network nearbyThis site: 41 ways openstreetmap · all sites with this
Grocery within 800 mThis site: 3 stores openstreetmap · all sites with this
High heat wave riskThis site: Relatively High fema-nri · all sites with this
High inland flooding riskThis site: Relatively High fema-nri · all sites with this
High social vulnerability tract (SVI ≥ 0.75)This site: 0.88 cdc-svi · all sites with this
High tornado riskThis site: Relatively High fema-nri · all sites with this
Interstate or freeway within 600 mThis site: I-65 fhwa-hpms · all sites with this
Opportunity ZoneThis site: 18097310306 hud-oz · all sites with this
Renter-majority tractThis site: 71% census-acs · all sites with this
Tract house prices doubled in 10 yearsThis site: +187% fhfa · all sites with this
Tract income up 60%+ since 2013This site: +91% census-acs · all sites with this
Tract population up 25%+ since 2013This site: +30% census-acs · all sites with this
Walkable block group (EPA ≥ 12)This site: …index 16.8 epa-walkability · all sites with this
Scale
1M+ sq ft GLAThis site: 1,200,000 sq ft esri-closed-us-malls-2014 · all sites with this
60+ acre siteThis site: 80 acres extraction · all sites with this
Strategy
RedevelopedThis site: extraction · all sites with this
New use
EducationThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
Entertainment and sportsThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
HousingThis site: Plans include housing as part of the mixed-use redevelopment. extraction · all sites with this
Mixed useThis site: Plans include housing as part of the mixed-use redevelopment. extraction · all sites with this
OfficeThis site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this
Retail (continued)This site: …new_use field extraction · all sites with this

All elements and lists · Trends

Now

StatusClosedextracted, unreviewed
documented
The mall closed on August 29, 2022.

en.wikipedia.org

StrategyRedevelopedextracted, unreviewed
documented
In 2024, they unveiled plans for a redevelopment of the site.

en.wikipedia.org

New useshousing, office, education, entertainment, retailextracted, unreviewed reported
Retrofit year2024extracted, unreviewed reported
DeveloperSojos Capital Groupextracted, unreviewed

History and original facts

Opened1968Wikidata reported
Closed2022extracted, unreviewed
documented
The mall closed on August 29, 2022.

en.wikipedia.org

Acres80.0extracted, unreviewed
documented
located on an 80-acre (32 ha) site.

en.wikipedia.org

Gross leasable area1,200,000 sq ftEsri 2014 layer reported
Stores at peak115Esri 2014 layer reported
Original developerEdward J. DeBartolo Sr.extracted, unreviewed
documented
Developed in 1968 by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.

en.wikipedia.org

AnchorsSteve & Barry's, Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, JCPenney, Sears, Kroger, Shoppers World, G.C. Murphy, William H. Block, Lazarus, L. S. Ayres
Address38th St. & Lafayette Rd.
CountyMarion
Census division3 · East North Central
NotesWikipedia categories: Defunct shopping malls in the United States

Not yet recorded: what is there now. Know it? Tell us.

Planning

Planning notesPlans include housing as part of the mixed-use redevelopment.extracted, unreviewed

Deals and debt

DateEventPricePartiesSource
2021Sold—Sojos Capital Group ← Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp.Wikipedia
2007Sold—Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. ← Simon Property GroupWikipedia

Securitised debt and public filers

Filings (2001 to date) that name “Lafayette Square Mall” and “Indianapolis” (13 hits, first 13 sampled, 2 other filers such as tenants left out). No commercial-mortgage trust names this mall in the sample, which does not rule out a securitised loan. Text matches, not a title search. Open the search · all trusts.

KindFilerFilingsDatesForms
Public owner (weak)SIMON PROPERTY GROUP INC /DE/ (SPG, SPG-PJ)22003-03-07 to 2003-03-0710-K 2
Public owner (weak)SIMON PROPERTY GROUP L P /DE/22003-03-31 to 2003-03-3110-K 2

Before and after

Before: the mall

Site80 acresquote
Enclosedyesquote
Renovations1998quote

After: the retrofit

Nothing extracted yet.

Hover "quote" to see the sentence each value came from. Planned figures are labelled planned. Method.

Site context

FEMA flood zoneX · AREA OF MINIMAL FLOOD HAZARDFEMA NFHL
EPA-regulated facilities within 500 m9: CELLCO PARTNERSHIP, DBA VERIZON WIRELESS; GOODYEAR ASC 6760; LAZARUS; MODERN VENDING INC; MONTGOMERY WARD AUTO EXPRESSEPA FRS
Census tract 180973103068,597 people, 4,287 per sq mi; median household income $55,060; median gross rent $951; 71% renters; 5.5% vacant units; 2.1% commute by transitACS 2023 5-year
Walkability (EPA, block group)index 16.8 of 20; 124 intersections per sq mi; nearest transit stop 286 m; land-use mix 0.82; 116,178 jobs within 45 min by car, 31,026 by transit; 37% of households without a carEPA Smart Location
Within a 10–15 minute walk (800 m)3 of 6 daily needs: 3 grocers, 0 schools, 1 parks or playgrounds, 0 health, 0 civic, 10 food and drink; 41 cycleway segments, 15 sidewalk-tagged segmentsOpenStreetMap
Opportunity Zoneyes, tract 18097310306 (rural)HUD
Housing permits, Marion County (IN), 2024621 units in 5+ unit buildings, 32 in 2–4, 1,253 single-family; 2023: 1,457 in 5+Census BPS
Social vulnerability (CDC SVI 2022, tract)overall percentile 0.88; socioeconomic 0.88; housing and transport 0.85; 48% below 150% of poverty; 6% of households with no vehicleCDC/ATSDR
Other atlas sites nearby4 within 10 km, 7 within 25 km: Lockefield Gardens (7.5 km); Kahn Tailoring Company building (8.2 km); Circle Centre Mall (9.2 km); Indianapolis Stamping Plant site (9.2 km)computed
Overture Mapsplace Lafayette Square Mall (shopping_mall, confidence 0.98, from Overture, Overture-signals, meta); building footprint 4,304 m²Overture (CDLA-Permissive 2.0)
Website and socialwww.shoplafayettemall.com (alive) · social: facebookOverture / Internet Archive
Attention: Wikipedia page views62,341 since 2015; 5,866 in the last 12 months (-8% vs the prior 12); peak 2024-12 with 796Wikimedia
Tract change 2013–2023population +30% (6,594 → 8,597); median income +91% ($28,850 → $55,060); renters 67% → 71%; median home value +77% ($84,300 → $149,100)Census ACS 5-year
Natural hazard risk (FEMA National Risk Index, tract)relatively moderate overall (score 82.1); expected annual loss $1.8M; high: tornado, inland flooding, heat wave, strong wind, cold wave; community resilience relatively lowFEMA NRI
Tax-credit housing within 1 kmnoneHUD LIHTC
Retail trade in the county, 2025 (BLS QCEW)45,102 jobs in 2,930 establishments; average annual pay $43,606; employment location quotient 0.73; employment +0.4% on the yearBLS QCEW 2025, NAICS 44-45, private
Jobs located in the tract, 20225,599 jobs; 3,090 in retail trade, 391 in accommodation and food (workplace blocks summed to tract 18097310306)Census LEHD LODES8 WAC 2022
Upward mobility (Opportunity Atlas, 2010 tract)children of low-income (25th percentile) families reached the 36th income percentile as adults; 5.7% incarcerated at the 2010 count (1,334 children in the sample); born 1978–83, measured 2014–15Opportunity Insights
Food access (USDA FARA 2019, 2010 tract)not a low-access tract at 1 mile; poverty rate 32.6%; median family income $34,208; 697 SNAP householdsUSDA ERS
SchoolsPike Township Metropolitan School District (PK-12); 2 public schools within 1 mile: IN Math & Science Academy; Carl Wilde School 79NCES EDGE
Elevation757 ft above sea level at the site pointUSGS 3DEP
Storm events in the county, 2016-2025241 county-logged events: 138 thunderstorm wind, 63 hail, 21 flash flood, 12 flood; $6,855,650 property damage reported; forecast-zone events (most flood, winter and heat) not countedNOAA Storm Events
Homes for sale in ZIP 46254, 2026-09median list price $236,500 (+2.6% on the year); 82 active listings; median 52 days on market; 36% with a price cutRealtor.com Research
Retail trade in the county, 2012 to 20232,856 establishments (-4%); 45,527 jobs (-2%)Census CBP
Housing market in the countytypical home value $227,822 (-1% 1 yr, +20% 5 yr); typical rent $1,379/mo (+2% 1 yr), 2026-09Zillow Research
House price index, tract, 2025328 (2000 = 100); +7.4% 1 yr, +74% 5 yr, +187% 10 yrFHFA
Traffic on the busiest road within 600 m (2024)70,179 vehicles a day on I-65 (Interstate, 6 lanes); 9,785 trucks; 34 counted segmentsFHWA HPMS
Site metrics15,000 sq ft GLA per acre; FAR 0.34computed

Summary, model-written

Opened in 1968 as an enclosed mall developed by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., Lafayette Square grew through expansions and anchor changes until the 2000s saw major tenant departures. The mall closed in 2022 after losing anchors such as Sears, Macy’s, and JCPenney, and in 2024 Sojos Capital Group unveiled plans to redevelop the 80‑acre site for housing, office, education, entertainment and retail.

Why. The record shows anchor losses — Montgomery Ward liquidated in 2001, JCPenney and Old Navy left in 2005, and Sears, Macy’s and JCPenney anchors later vacant — as key pressures leading to decline. No explicit mention of debt or demolition, so causes are anchored in tenant turnover and competition.

Where it stands. The mall closed in 2022 and is currently owned by Sojos Capital Group, which unveiled mixed‑use redevelopment plans for the site in 2024.

For a planner

  • Mixed‑use redevelopment planned (housing, office, education, entertainment, retail) per strategy and new_use fields.
  • Site comprises 80 acres with a low existing FAR of 0.34, indicating potential for increased density under new zoning.
  • Ownership transferred to Sojos Capital Group in 2021, placing the project under private‑lead control.
  • Open questions include timing, financing, required zoning changes, and community impacts (not detailed in record).

For a developer

  • 80‑acre parcel with 1,200,000 sf GLA (15,000 sf/acre) currently vacant after 2022 closure.
  • Controlled by Sojos Capital Group since 2021; redevelopment plans unveiled 2024 indicate entitlement stage is conceptual/planning.
  • Context layer shows only yield metrics (FAR 0.34, GLA/acre 15k); flood, transit, and environmental constraints are not stated.
  • Market signals are weak: opportunity score 25, with reasons noting the site is already “retrofit built,” closed/demolished, large size, and housing presence.

What we do not know yet

  • Exact demolition status and timing of any structural removal are not specified.
  • Environmental conditions, flood risk, and transit access are absent from the context layer.
  • Detailed financials, debt load, and cost estimates for the redevelopment are not provided.
  • Zoning designation and any required approvals or incentives are not mentioned.
  • Several fields (year_closed, acres, original_developer, year_retrofit, developer, status, strategy, new_use, planning_notes) are marked as extraction and the record is flagged as draft, indicating potential unreviewed model‑extracted data.

Generated by nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b on NVIDIA API via Hermes CT from the fields, parcels, deals and context layers on this page, with no outside knowledge. It is regenerated when the record changes and has not been checked by a person. How it is made.

Similar sites

  • Villa Italia Mall, Lakewood, CO · Malls · similar size (104 acres); similar GLA (1,400,000 sq ft); opened 1966
  • Cinderella Mall, Englewood, CO · Malls · similar size (60 acres); similar GLA (1,400,000 sq ft); opened 1968
  • Boulevard Mall, Erie County, NY · Malls · similar size (63 acres); opened 1962; closed 2026
  • Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD · Malls · similar size (100 acres); similar GLA (1,045,000 sq ft); closed 2023

Elsewhere on the web

Retail history: Lafayette Square on DeadMalls.com photos, field notes and visitor memories since 2000; matched by name and city; nothing copied here

Pages with photos

Search images: Google · Bing · Commons · references: ULI case studies · Google Scholar

Multifamily screen

  • retrofit already built
  • closed or demolished site (sourced)
  • 80 acres
  • housing in the record

Inputs: record fields (size, status) and county Census ACS 2018–2023 figures (growth, rent). How the points work. Not a recommendation.

Background

Lafayette Square Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Developed in 1968 by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., the mall is locally owned by Sojos Capital Group. The anchor store is Shoppers World. There are three vacant anchor stores that were once Sears, Macy's, and JCPenney.

Excerpt from Wikipedia (authors and history), CC BY-SA 4.0. May be older than the record above.

Timeline

  1. 1968 Opened (Wikidata)
  2. 1968 Opened
  3. 1974 Lazarus expansion opened
  4. 1975 L.S. Ayres added after Kroger demolition
  5. 1998 Simon Property Group remodel added racetrack-themed food court
  6. 2001 Montgomery Ward liquidated; Burlington Coat Factory took over
  7. 2005 JCPenney and Old Navy departed
  8. 2007 Simon sold mall to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp.
  9. 2021 Sojos Capital fully acquired the mall
  10. 2022 Mall closed
  11. 2024 Plans unveiled for redevelopment of the site

Sources

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