Ball State University has signed a two-year lease for the first floor of 306 S. Walnut Street in downtown Muncie — the former site of the Mark III Taproom. The space is expected to be used by students in the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) for work related to urban design and planning.
The full use is still being discussed but is expected to include studio space for ECAP students exploring the analysis and design of urban areas,” Andrew Walker, University Content and Media Strategy Manager, said in a written statement, adding that more information will be provided as it becomes available.
The building has been vacant since the closure of the Mark III Taproom in, once the oldest gay bar in Indiana, in Jan. 2024. The location sits just blocks away from the county courthouse and other central downtown developments.
Vicki Veach, Executive Director of the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, said she had not been formally notified of Ball State’s lease, but sees the move as potentially symbolic.
“It will be good to have something in the space. The space has been empty for quite some time now,” Veach said. “Ball State leasing the space may be both a practical move and a symbolic one: a university stepping further into the civic space of downtown.”
Veach said downtown Muncie has been on “a steady upward trajectory in terms of revitalization and economic development,” thanks to long-term efforts in restoration, small business development, and cultural programming.
She emphasized that partnerships between public institutions and local government have helped attract and retain development.
“Partnering with institutions like Ball State University and Ivy Tech Muncie align development with workforce and community needs,” Veach said. “This proactive involvement helps reduce risk for entrepreneurs and signals that the city is committed to long-term downtown success.”
If the space evolves into a site for student work and community connection, Veach believes it could strengthen the relationship between Ball State and the broader Muncie area. She said the location has the potential to bring university talent and programming into the city’s core, opening doors for collaborative projects, events, and experiential learning.
She added that creating more overlap between the campus and downtown could lead to a more active and unified community, one that honors Muncie’s history while embracing future possibilities.
This story may be updated with new information as it becomes available.
Contact the Ball State Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.
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