By Tony Sandleben—
MUNCIE, Ind. – The City of Muncie is one step closer to another housing project. The city has reached a deal with developer Miller Valentine Construction, who is calling the development “City View 2.”
City View 2 will be an $11.8 million project that will consist almost entirely of single-family workforce housing homes on scattered sites. They will be rental units to begin with, but there will be options to purchase later. Tenants will receive a credit for part of the rent to go toward the purchase price of the home. The city will provide $1.18 million from combined efforts of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission (MRC), Tax Abatement from Council, HOME Funds from Community Development and the mayor’s EDIT Funds.
The locations will include 37 lots currently owned by the MRC. There are 10 new homes going up in the Southside Neighborhood, 10 in the Thomas Park/Avondale area and 17 in the combined Industry, Blaine SE and East Central neighborhoods. The MRC sees a bad property, acquires it, then demolishes the broken-down house. The city, then, works to secure a developer to build new housing stock for the community.
This map illustrates Muncie Redevelopment Commission properties where homes for “City View 2” may be built. Click map for larger view.
“It is very encouraging to see the redevelopment cycle work out in this manner,” Mayor Ridenour said. “Community development is only possible when we work together just like this. Building new homes where a problem house once was improves our housing options, reduces the average age of our housing and helps build neighborhoods.”
The sites for these new houses will be throughout the first, third and sixth City Council Districts.
“I’m thankful that the City of Muncie is willing to invest in new housing in the south side of Muncie,” First District City Councilman Jeff Green said. “District 1 is well deserving of opportunity to rebuild bigger and better neighborhoods.”
“I believe high quality homes lead to pride in the community and a better overall sense of home,” Third District City Councilman Brandon Garrett said. “This project accomplishes that goal and also shows the lengths the city will go to improve quality of life in its neighborhoods. I’m very excited to see the finished product in our community. Coming from someone who has lived in these neighborhoods my whole life, I am very excited to see them getting the attention they deserve and to see the finished product in our community.”
The development is set to begin in May of this year.
