By SUZANNE DOWNING
Jan. 29, 2026 – Plans to redevelop the former Polaris Building site in downtown Fairbanks are on hold, as the city’s new mayor reconsiders the future of one of the community’s most symbolic properties.
Mayor Mindy O’Neall, a Democrat, told the Fairbanks City Council this week that formal efforts to solicit development proposals for the vacant downtown lot will be placed on hold for at least a year, signaling a reset after the October 2025 mayoral election that ended former Mayor David Pruhs’ time in office.
The site, now city-owned sits where the 11-story Polaris Building once stood. Built in 1952 as a hotel and apartment complex, the Polaris became a landmark structure in downtown Fairbanks before decades of flooding, disrepair, and abandonment turned it into a long-standing public safety hazard. The building was demolished in late 2025 after years of debate and planning.
Under the previous administration, the city had begun laying the groundwork for redevelopment. A Polaris Building Working Group was formed, and city planners explored options ranging from mixed-use development — including housing, offices, and retail — to interim uses that would activate the space while long-term plans were developed. Festival Fairbanks and other community groups used the site for temporary programming, including seasonal events and a temporary ice rink.
Those early redevelopment efforts included discussions about formally soliciting project ideas from private developers through letters of interest or future requests for proposals.
That process is now paused.
In a council update delivered Monday, Mayor O’Neall said the city will shift away from near-term development solicitation and instead focus on broader community engagement. She said her administration will spend the coming months building an outreach strategy to gather public input and work with stakeholders and community partners before making decisions about the site’s future.
The goal, she said, is to ensure that redevelopment reflects community priorities rather than moving forward under plans shaped by the previous administration.
The pause effectively puts structured redevelopment planning on hold through at least 2026, delaying any formal developer selection or project solicitation process that had been contemplated under former Mayor Pruhs.
In the meantime, the downtown parcel will continue to be used for temporary and community-based activities, maintaining it as an active public space rather than leaving it idle while longer-term planning unfolds.
The Polaris site has long carried symbolic weight in Fairbanks — first as a centerpiece of downtown development, later as a visible reminder of urban decline, and now as one of the city’s most prominent redevelopment opportunities. With new leadership at City Hall, its future direction is once again being reshaped — this time through a slower, more community-driven process rather than immediate development solicitation.
Top photo: Demolition of the Polaris Building took place in the summer of 2025. Robert Lype photo.
