On the corner of Jackson Street and Talley Avenue is the site of a typical off-campus rental house. Once a fraternity house, it is now home to senior Jake Knight. He said the house is plagued with a multitude of problems, including broken faucets, poor plumbing, a broken fan, cracked drywall and unsealed windows. The exterior isn't any better. In fact, a large mound of dirt remains near the yard, left from when the contractors fixed the pipes and failed to clean up the mess.
This is one example of the housing situation in Muncie near Ball State University. Students move into these houses to rent for a year or two and then graduate. Landlords maintain the houses just enough to earn a small profit. Meanwhile, the houses continue to age, property taxes remain high and any type of economic development is stifled. Although Ball State's campus continues to look more attractive and affluent, the area just outside it is feeling the effects of neglect.
How can we turn this around and revitalize an area that used to have nice neighborhoods? Jerry Friend, city building commissioner, said it needs to be a collaborative effort of the landlords, the city, the students and Ball State. Friend said Muncie has made progress through renovation projects and the establishment of a new association for landlords. However, many houses and yards still look disheveled. He said the city has to respect the rights of students and landlords and can't intervene until they break health and safety codes.
"It's an ongoing process," Friend said. "It takes their cooperation."
According to an article in The Star Press, abandoned and degenerating homes are common in Muncie. To fight against blight, the community is working to either repair or remove houses that are in extremely poor condition. The article blames the downward slope of the local economy for the problem.
In addition, most of the houses in Muncie are old. According to a city demographic Web site, 7,224 houses were built in 1939 or earlier. Since 1940, there has been a steady decline in the number of houses that have been built within the city limits.
The areas surrounding the campus may be in poor condition, but they can be revitalized with time, money and work. We have seen the positive effects beautifying the landscape and paving McKinley Avenue have had on the image of Ball State. We have noticed college students are attracted to the newly built college apartment complexes. It's time to focus our attention to an important aspect of the extended campus. If we don't, prospective students who see these student housing areas will form improper impressions of the university.
In essence, I want to see the beauty of Ball State extended to off-campus housing. To accomplish this, students should know their rights as tenants and ask for the attention of their landlords when problems arise. Students are currently thinking about their living arrangements for next year or this summer. It's a good time for them to recognize their responsibility in this process and realize that keeping their yards free of trash helps the greater community.
"If students took care of their houses or apartments as if it were their true home, there would be a difference," Knight said.
Landlords should be held accountable to the city to maintain the houses. The city officials of Muncie should aid in the process and supply financial support whenever possible.
If nothing else, we should work together to raise awareness of the issue, because the first step is simply acknowledging the problem.
Jonathan Neal is a senior public relations major and writes 'Just Think About It' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Jonathan at jdneal@bsu.edu
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