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Commission forwards special-use expansion at 2517 W. 8th St. for senior-center counseling and medical services
Summary
The commission voted 7–0 to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a special-use expansion at 2517 West 8th Street to allow outpatient counseling and medical services tied to the senior center; supporters stressed historic preservation and veterans services, neighbors raised traffic concerns.
The Delaware Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission voted 7–0 to forward a favorable recommendation for a special-use expansion at 2517 West 8th Street that would allow outpatient counseling and medical services in a residential zone alongside the existing Delaware County Muncie Senior Center and veterans project.
Jay Deutschman, who identified himself as the manager and representative for the purchaser (said in testimony to be GCRT LLC), described plans to renovate the former Forest Park School building, preserve the senior-center operations, add roughly 25,000 square feet of renovated space and offer behavioral-health intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial-hospitalization (PHP) services. "The program itself will probably be about 70 more people a day," Deutschman said, adding the operation would include a gym and recreational space and would operate seven days a week.
Deutschman said the entity is for‑profit but that the senior center would remain on site and be charged $1 per month in rent; the applicant said it would cover building expenses the nonprofit cannot sustain. Julie Mears, executive director of the Muncie Delaware County Senior Center, told the commission the center spent more than $588,000 on maintenance and repairs last year and that the partnership would relieve the center’s financial burden.
Supporters included representatives of the Veterans Project and Mayor Dan Ridenour, who praised Deutschman’s track record in historic rehabilitation and veterans services. Patrick Romack, a veterans‑project representative, said the planned services could address local needs including suicide prevention among veterans.
Neighbors and property owners, including Kenneth Huffman and Bob King, voiced concerns about traffic near school bus stops and asked the commission to ensure that the special use would be limited to the counseling and medical services requested. Staff and counsel clarified that the request was for the specific use listed and that the Board of Zoning Appeals could impose conditions—such as limiting transferability of the special use—if it approved the expansion.
After discussion the commission voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals; the BZA hearing was scheduled for May 28 at 6 p.m. in the same room. The commission’s recommendation is advisory; final permitting and any special-use conditions would be decided by the BZA.
