[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6466767,"mediaKeyId","5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c","parentId",5818332,"title","Downtown Muncie plans AR ‘Echoes of the Past,’ public-art utility covers and launches facade-grant reviews","audioSeconds",469,"startMs",4332000,"endMs",4801000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c&start=4332&end=4801","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c/thumbnail_4332000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466767/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Downtown-Muncie-plans-AR-Echoes-of-the-Past-public-art-utility-covers-and-launches-facade-grant-reviews","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466767-590b09abf3d79597763f932a76e35239/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152781&Signature=UPxvU4yxgeSmbC4zT44E7vx1XwAfhfKt78qv97Tb0Bnadl1BEDK3LT~9j2zgTwx0glXZZ9uH4hKnDZRiWADxfHZI2VkPduMmzMpPLh4GI~Q0hf~HBuTokXCjb5rzBsQL3Pf7l2zwkwuZWawJiHaF4Qi3XJ-igl5Y0hcolDbPo-A9QajO7Wxf781jhf5yU8LmD5EsF-~Nrumlaen2euZrLifq5OFrfdBg8L8wwXZnuWQTRSuPjcYUbG0bNcvmPXyS9IY4aKnXlUXonJVDxYPndn8M8H7ISnHVrjHwRqvKmcvbwmhFKM0TTxgh2mQSvfHaVbBCyPPumC2MNdc8cVvWfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Muncie, IN","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","Downtown Development and local arts leaders updated the commission on a series of cultural and placemaking initiatives intended to boost downtown visitation and spur investment.

Vicky Veach (Downtown Development Partnership) said staff have received a pair of façade-grant applications; each application was returned for additional information so the committee can apply the program guidelines. Veach said the program team expects awards to start within a few months once applications are complete and reviewed.

Veach and presenters outlined a suite of Arts Walk programming scheduled for Oct. 2: a QR-code-driven augmented-reality feature called \"Echoes of the Past\" will let visitors hold a phone at three downtown locations and view the former buildings that once occupied those spaces (Main & Walnut/Weiser building, the Delaware County Courthouse former footprint, and Main & Mulberry/Weiser Grand Opera House). Veach said the AR pilot grew from a partnership with Ball State’s IDIA Lab and the Bob Brothers Foundation and could expand to additional sites in future years.

The downtown team is also installing the first two permanent decorative \"pedestrian iron works\" utility-cover artworks — one on the sidewalk outside Destination Muncie and another sanitary district sewer cover nearer Canton Commons — with at least five additional covers planned next year. A new alley-based interactive installation using QR-triggered effects will debut in Dave’s Alley during Arts Walk; organizers described the experience as layered visual and audio elements activated via phone.

Vicky Veach reported the city’s signature summer events performed strongly this year: Summer Arts Walk drew an estimated 7,000 attendees (Placer.ai data) and the \"Fire Up Downtown\" event attracted about 17,000 attendees, an increase the organizers described as roughly 35% year over year. Veach said new downtown businesses over the past 18 months include a Filipino restaurant, a martini bar, a record shop, a salon and classroom/space use by the Ball State College of Architecture Planning.

Tanya Saied, executive director of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council, said the council will coordinate a public ribbon-cutting for a new public-work installation at Ivy Tech (the Exhibit Columbus–donated piece \"Designed by the Public\") on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. She invited the commission and the public to attend and noted the work was donated to Muncie by Exhibit Columbus.

Separately, Muncie Land Bank director Nate Howard reported recent property transactions, pending proposals for neighborhood corridor planning work and a grant application to the Ball Brothers Foundation for acquisition and redevelopment work.

Downtown leaders asked the commission to publicize the façade program and future calls for applications; staff said they would coordinate communications with the city communications office.

No formal vote was taken on these items; they were informational updates to the commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Muncie City Redevelopment Commission Meeting September 18th 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","Downtown Development reported new businesses, event attendance gains and several pilot public-art and facade-grant projects. Arts Walk on Oct. 2 will introduce an AR history experience at three sites and debut permanent art utility covers; facade-grant applications are under review.","taxTitle","Muncie City, Delaware County, Indiana","taxId",4306,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466772,"Redevelopment commission approves pay-as-you-go plan to demolish part of Muncie Mall and create outward-facing retail",1421,2770000,4191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c&start=2770&end=4191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c/thumbnail_2770000.jpg","/articles/6466772/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Redevelopment-commission-approves-pay-as-you-go-plan-to-demolish-part-of-Muncie-Mall-and-create-outward-facing-retail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466772-62843bd0f0ccdc8b48dd4c4802fcedd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152781&Signature=SDCe9j~b4hd7cRetxCUU53arkjs0oHZs6Ru2KrZJ9uS8JbULWEf2guX~IV34qHTusLBF7SPJve1Czjz7IJmM~l0vkILiYDbI7OdQ5gMO28z~IC8Q4yinDnJb-8kWa-zqmhQ4~-m4YtRFhiVGy~2Npa2~adgbnS-70gBZFNAVwSmxFS8D9QhC5LRveEVocs3jdjUf8rURHrsJgpDCjmknZOC3mL4DmUuHG-ZJH75LoNYXELnv-9Tpuv36MAa-Z6Qhk7oiNrmY40hM4MFgQFMyCWv02nOBNpBhV69Q74EjF6APvXSvZaA6CO3LFoXCFj0mRRHsruqCqIelbIUsZ2n4Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muncie Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a pay-as-you-go tax increment reimbursement agreement to support Whole Property Group’s multiyear redevelopment of Muncie Mall.

Whole Property Group representative John Mulherin told the commission the company plans to demolish roughly 250,000 square feet (including the former JCPenney and Sears footprints and an obsolete theater) to create outward-facing outparcels on McGalliard Avenue and new development pads. Mulherin said the company purchased the mall earlier in 2024 and believes demolition and reconfiguration are necessary to stabilize operations and attract new tenants.

\"At 68% vacancy the mall in its current configuration does not have a viable future,\" Mulherin said, arguing that tearing down obsolete anchor boxes and creating street-front parcels would unlock new incremental value.

Whole Property Group proposed to fund demolition and initial site work upfront, estimating demolition and related costs at about $2.5 million. The company asked for a pay-as-you-go tax increment reimbursement capped at $2,523,103 for verified demolition and site-preparation expenses; staff and the developer emphasized any reimbursement would come only from future incremental tax revenue generated by the redeveloped property.

Staff and the developer provided valuation figures: the mall’s current assessed value was cited at roughly $4.7 million (mall-only) with a larger surrounding retail node assessed at approximately $45 million. Whole Property Group projected phase 1 could add about $14 million in increment to the property and produce roughly $423,000 in incremental tax revenue under the city’s effective tax rate assumptions, from which pay-go reimbursement would be drawn.

The commission previously authorized an initial reimbursement of $432,000 for early demolition and abatement work; the new resolution expands the maximum reimbursable pay-as-you-go pool to the $2.5 million range and formalizes the terms of verification and reimbursement. Under the agreement, all claimed expenses must be verified and approved by the city and any reimbursement is limited to actual increment produced; the city will retain a portion of increment as noted by staff.

The commission voted 5–0 to approve resolution 2025-06 after questions about timing, abatement and demolition sequencing. Commissioners and staff discussed the long-term nature of mall redevelopment and the need for outward-facing retail to attract tenants in secondary markets. Mulherin said demolition abatement could begin in October with construction of new pads to follow if tenants commit.

The resolution directs staff to execute the pay-as-you-go agreement consistent with the capped reimbursement amount and verification procedures outlined in the presentation. The developer and staff said further phases would be considered only if phase 1 creates the expected incremental value and tenant interest.

The vote record in the meeting transcript shows the roll call as unanimous (Mister Bishop, Mister Dale, Mister Miller, Mister Prabilla and Miss Waggly voted yes).","Whole Property Group will proceed with a phased plan to tear down roughly 250,000 square feet at Muncie Mall and build outward-facing outparcels; the commission approved a pay-as-you-go tax-increment reimbursement agreement capped at about $2.52 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466777,"Muncie panel approves $407,200 match for developer to build 42-home northwest subdivision",2765,80,2765700,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c&start=0&end=2765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5818332-34aec21b1890f00afdb02c9d503c372c/thumbnail_80.jpg","/articles/6466777/Muncie-City/Delaware-County/Indiana/Muncie-panel-approves-407200-match-for-developer-to-build-42-home-northwest-subdivision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466777-241d9bd98894e6646666e53ebd23fffd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152781&Signature=kqiMnKBWdWx0YmwoZla1qEpDRrxWUhvqTnWBMaX2gCFpYJDh-3oazo7PYAdRx5GjRyNG0~AROBQ9bnzg120Kr3gOma7efpkCAaJVU8hzvvRx95qfgOXeISGEYVNwoJqh2NBkUVIYU9ru4P0u3Suex9gqqvF85A9ofvguKklgnf~0wjcTrkpj~OWrVwnph-C13r6RWxij9v4iVRshbXSfCzAJpQtJ4lXqRPRuz2UytAshDWQO0l8RtII10vQJeCz0N1P1x4NLQ5otzgAK5CLgJaEsFqooC9R8vyrenQJRMCSWd5-gPQhulhuL0uYu1155LnneiB2mPrJjf-imE65~wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Muncie Redevelopment Commission voted 3-2 on a funding agreement to provide a $407,200 city match to a private developer for infrastructure to support a proposed 42-home subdivision on a site off the Riggan Road extension.

Commissioners and staff said the project includes a county match and sanitary-district participation, and is intended to convert currently untaxed Ball State-owned acreage into new housing and tax revenue. Staff and the developer said the site is presently an empty field and would generate new assessed value once built out.

City staff estimated the fully developed site will create roughly $20 million in assessed value, and projected about $24 million in tax and fee revenue over a 50-year period based on current assumptions. The developer said the plan emphasizes upscale details — metal roofs, high-efficiency systems, small upscale floor plans and neighborhood amenities including a pavilion, pickleball courts and decorative entrances — and said he will provide private financing for his equity share.

\"I would like the metal roof to be on every one of the houses in here,\" the developer said during the presentation, describing design choices he expects will appeal to retirees and other buyers.

Mayor Dan Ridenour, speaking in support, recounted the developer's prior local work and said Ball State donated the land to encourage more staff to live in Muncie. \"They gave this property to us and said 'do something along the lines of Store' if you could,\" Ridenour said, referencing an earlier local development the city views as a success.

Commission debate focused on the level and fairness of public subsidy. A commissioner asked officials to confirm per-lot public subsidy; staff said combined government subsidy for the subdivision equates to about $55,000 per lot and represents roughly 46% of development costs (commissioner calculations varied depending on assumed home prices). One commissioner urged prioritizing investment in code enforcement, down-payment assistance and renovation of existing housing rather than subsidizing premium new homes.

The motion to approve the funding agreement passed on roll call: Commissioners Miller, Prabilla and Waggly voted yes; Commissioners Bishop and Dale voted no. There was a second to the motion during the meeting record but the mover and seconder were not captured in the public transcript.

The agreement specifies the city contribution will be used primarily for infrastructure (road extension into the subdivision) and will be paired with the county match and sanitary-district work. City staff indicated the engineer's estimate for the road extension portion of the city's work is about $200,000 and said the road will extend Reagan Road westward only to serve the subdivision (it will not connect to the county segment of Riggan Road).

Commissioners and the developer also addressed project economics: the developer said baseline new-build prices in the immediate market are unlikely to fall below about $300,000 and that the proposed product is expected to start near the $400,000–$450,000 range depending on market demand. He said his company is operating on lower profit margins locally (about 8% net profit in the area) compared with national averages.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the city and the developer will finalize the written funding agreement; the city engineer will manage the road extension work paid from the city allocation; sanitary-district work and the county match are already in process per staff comments.

Votes at a glance: $407,200 city match approved (3–2).","The Muncie Redevelopment Commission voted 3-2 to approve a $407,200 city funding match to support infrastructure for a proposed 42-home premium subdivision off the Riggan Road extension. Commissioners debated subsidy levels, anticipated tax revenue and whether public funds should back higher-end housing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Downtown Muncie plans AR ‘Echoes of the Past,’ public-art utility covers and launches facade-grant reviews

Redevelopment commission approves pay-as-you-go plan to demolish part of Muncie Mall and create outward-facing retail

Muncie panel approves $407,200 match for developer to build 42-home northwest subdivision