Jeff Howe, city redevelopment staff, told the Muncie Redevelopment Commission on July 17 that the High Point Station project and plans for the Muncie Mall remain active but that several approvals and funding steps are still pending. "It's gonna be 54 market rate apartments and approximately 15,000 square feet of commercial and restaurant space, combined with the ... green space," Howe said, describing the High Point Station proposal.

Why it matters: both projects are central to downtown redevelopment and to future tax increment financing (TIF) revenue the commission may use to support public investments.

Howe said work on High Point Station's green space is underway and that the commission and city have exchanged proposed terms for an economic development agreement. He described planned parking for the project as "71 spaces in the project itself and then about 14 street on street parking," and said the developer had returned a response to proposed terms. "There are a couple points ... a couple of little friction points that we'll work through, but I think we'll get something done here, fairly quickly," Howe said.

On the Muncie Mall site, Howe said the city has received a more detailed plan for redevelopment and that work on demolition and early site preparation would be reimbursed from TIF only when physical work is done. "We're releasing once they've done work. We are reimbursing them for work that gets done," Howe said. He said the project team had suggested demolition and related work could begin in "maybe being able to do something 6 to 8 weeks." Howe also said the mall's assessed value has fallen substantially over time; he described a prior assessment figure of about $35,000,000 and said the current assessment was "down to 4.7" (as stated in the meeting), adding he could not confirm when the earlier assessment dated from.

Commissioners asked for a developer presentation to the commission when the mall team is ready. Commissioner Bishop asked, "Would you be willing to invite the mall team to come to one of our meetings to present some of that stuff when they're ready?" Howe said yes: "I think that'd be helpful ... at some point, we'll get them to tell you their story."

The commission took no formal vote or funding decision on either project at the July meeting. Howe said the commission had previously approved release of TIF funds for early work but reiterated reimbursements will be tied to completed work.

The updates also included discussion of other downtown opportunities Howe said staff are pursuing, including conversations with hotel developers and sites for market-rate and senior housing, but no commitments or agreements were reported.

Next steps: Howe said staff will invite the mall development team to a future meeting once the team has a presentation-ready plan. The commission did not adopt any new resolutions or make funding decisions at the July 17 meeting.