Muncie council tables University Avenue parking ordinance amid neighborhood safety and historic‑preservation concerns

The Muncie City Council on Oct. 6 voted to table Ordinance 29‑25, the proposed change to Chapter 80 of the Muncie Code that would remove on‑street parking on University Avenue between Dix Street and Wheeling Avenue to add protected bicycle lanes and related streetscape treatments.

The measure drew extended public comment because it is tied to a Ball State University‑led connector project supported by a Lilly Endowment community grant. Ball State’s letter, read into the record by Mayor Dan Ridenour, said, “Ball State University supports the city's proposed plan to add bicycle lanes along University Avenue between Dix Street and Wheeling Avenue.” The mayor and university representatives told council the grant funds (the university described the amount as “roughly a million dollars”) would pay for art, colored crosswalks and other treatments; the city previously paid for curb and sidewalk work.

Why it matters: the corridor links Ball State’s village area and downtown Muncie; removing parking would change daily patterns for nearby residents of the Riverside Normal City neighborhood, where homeowners and neighborhood leaders warned about potential demolition of rear garages, increased…