Rod Crossland remembers what downtown Muncie looked like when he had first established in the area. At the time, Crossland was looking for a cheap place to open his business, a gift store that is located in the corner of Jackson and Walnut streets.
"It was really dead back then, there was only about three buildings that were residential," he said.
Now, almost nine years after Crossland opened Wish Bone Gifts, the blocks in downtown Muncie have been revitalized with new businesses and more residents moving into the area.
Jerry Friend, building commissioner at the city of Muncie, said in the past ten years he has seen almost 200 departments renovated and furnished in the downtown area, compared to almost none ten years ago.
"People are moving back," he said. "I think it's because of the improvement the merchants in the city have made downtown. It was a bad downtown, with literally pigeon droppings and dirty streets."
Some think the increase of businesses is part of a cycle, and Cheryl Crowder, program manager of Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, said she sees many of the changes as normal of the community revitalization that will help surrounding neighborhoods.
"There is a cycle here, where there will be certain times when many businesses will open, and then nothing for a while," she said.
Newer renovated apartment buildings in downtown, like the Lodge apartments and Sanders Flats, offer a place to live that is close to the bars and restaurants in downtown, while also making it convenient for Ball State or Ivy Tech students to go to classes.
Property manager from American United Appraisals Kariann Jobe said she believes more people have moved back to the downtown area because of the businesses that are opening. Jobe said she sees people from all ages moving back.
"The majority of people I have seen are young professionals," she said. "I also know an older couple that live in the Lodge and work downtown, they like not having a lawn to mow and taxes to pay."
However, the now boasting downtown Muncie has had a few issues, after business owners complained about the Downtown Development events becoming inconvenient for their sales. In last month's Downtown Development meeting, a couple business owners said they thought Fat Summer Fest was inconvenient for their businesses.
Crowder said although main events will continue, the organization will make sure businesses express their views about what they want.
"Communication should be the very best way to go with organizing these events," she said. "But we need more people to drop in downtown and raise funds for the organization."
While more events and businesses grow in downtown Muncie, the possibilities for there to be a connection between students and the community will continue growing, Ball State graduate student Jennifer Gerdom said.
"I absolutely think it could make a positive influence," she said. "I think Ball State and the community can benefit each other."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
