By Jud Fisher—
MUNCIE, IN – For decades, The Village served as a popular destination just off Ball State’s campus—home to locally owned shops, restaurants, and a lively social scene. It was a place where students, residents, and visitors mingled over drinks, music, and weekend plans. In more recent years, though, The Village has faced its share of challenges, with fewer businesses and less foot traffic than in its heyday.
Now, a major revitalization effort is breathing new life into the district.
Rooted in arts, culture, dining, and innovation, the reimagined Village will offer new reasons for people to gather—and new opportunities to strengthen connections between campus and community. Ball Brothers Foundation was proud to support early momentum for this transformation, including a $2.5 million grant awarded in 2024 toward the construction of a new performing arts center that will serve as a cultural anchor and regional destination.
With construction well underway, we recently spoke with Ball State University President Geoff Mearns to learn more about the vision, progress, and potential of this once-familiar place—and what it means for the future of Muncie and East Central Indiana.
The Village has been a familiar part of Muncie’s landscape for generations. What made this the right time to pursue revitalization?
In 2009, Ball State began acquiring property in The Village in order to assemble a sufficient amount of parcels to attract a development partner. By 2020, the university had achieved this objective, so we solicited proposals from development companies all across the country. We selected Fairmount Properties in 2021. This timing was beneficial, because it enabled us to capitalize on the positive momentum happening in downtown Muncie.
There are a lot of cranes and construction crews right now in The Village. Can you give us a sense of what’s underway and the timelines we can look forward to?
Construction is presently underway on three major facilities: the new Performing Arts Center, the Cantio hotel, and the Center for Innovation and Collaboration. All of these projects will be completed in late Summer 2026. Construction is also underway on the residential component of the revitalization project. Construction on the 25 owner-occupied homes and townhomes will be completed in three phases by Summer 2027.
What are some of the exciting design elements or amenities planned for the new performing arts center and hotel? What will make these facilities stand out—for visitors, students, and the community alike?
The Performing Arts Center will have two performance venues: a mainstage theater with 425 seats, and an experimental, “black box” theater that can accommodate up to 100 people, depending on the configuration of the stage. The Cantio will have 97 rooms, including seven suites, as well as a ground floor restaurant and a rooftop lounge. The Cantio will be the highest quality hotel—and the only rooftop lounge—in East Central Indiana.
The new performing arts center is envisioned as a cornerstone of The Village revitalization. Why was this facility a priority, and what role do you see it playing in the future of both Ball State and Muncie?
The Performing Arts Center will attract more than 35,000 people for student performances during the academic year. These people will dine and shop in The Village, which will benefit the restaurants and retail stores.
What kind of economic impact do you anticipate this overall revitalization project will have for Muncie?
We estimate that the new amenities in The Village will produce more than 100 new jobs, as well as significant increases in local tax revenue. The owner-occupied homes will produce additional property tax revenue. And the Center for Innovation and Collaboration will be used by our students, faculty, staff, and community members to develop inventive ideas that contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our region.
Beyond dollars and cents, how do you think The Village revitalization will shape the future of Muncie and East Central Indiana—not just economically, but in terms of how people see and experience this region?
We anticipate that a revitalized commercial district will accelerate the ongoing revitalization of Muncie and Delaware County. It will also enable the university to continue to grow student enrollment, and it might prompt more students to stay here after they graduate. The Village will also help the university and the IU Health-Ball Memorial Hospital to attract and retain outstanding employees.
Five or ten years from now, how do you hope people will describe the new Village? When you imagine walking through the revitalized Village this far into the future, what do you hope people will see and feel?
Fifty years ago, The Village was a vibrant commercial district that attracted people of all ages to dine and shop. In ten years, The Village will once again attract people of all ages, as well as our students, to watch a live theater performance, enjoy a drink on the roof of The Cantio, eat at one of many restaurants, and shop at a variety of local shops. The Village will be one of many assets that will make Muncie a destination for Ball State graduates and first-time visitors.
About Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation is one of the state’s oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation pays out more than $8 million in grants to support arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services, and public/society benefit. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city, county, and state.
