MUNCIE, Ind.— The Indiana Department of Transportation proposed the development of four roundabouts to be built near the Historic Emily Kimbrough District. This neighborhood is a hidden gem and serves as a time capsule for Muncie’s history.
The proposal of building not just one, but four roundabouts has been gaining the attention of residents and expert preservationists. Both worry that demolishing or modernizing these homes means losing key parts of Muncie’s culture.
“The city needs to rethink what’s best for its residents,” Indiana Landmark Vice President, Mark Dollase, said. “[A roundabout] doesn't help neighborhood residents. It doesn't make it easier to walk your dog through the neighborhood or push your kid in a stroller through the neighborhood.”
Proposing these traffic conditions could be dangerous to the community. Preservationists and local residents believe the city and state should look at what other alternatives might be available. Whether that is stop signs, speed bumps or speed signs.
The priority in this community is not just passing through this neighborhood. It is not just getting from point A to point B as quickly as they can, it's raising families and homemaking.
The District has been added to Indiana Landmarks' “Ten Most Endangered Landmarks” this year. Dollase says he and his team made this decision for “primarily two reasons.” The first being the proposed transportation project along State Road 32, “that will significantly disrupt the neighborhood in terms of the installation.” The second reason being the success of preservation in the neighborhood over the decades.
Dollase supports this by saying, “It's been incredible the accomplishments they've had and that the individual residents have tackled in terms of restoration of their homes.”
With that being said, vacant homes pose a threat to the neighborhood’s preservation.
“You are gonna want the best environment for your family, just like the residents of the Emily Kimbro District do,” Dollase explained.
What can residents of Muncie do? Talk to a city council, attend neighborhood meetings, talk to professionals in Ball State’s CAP building, or visit indianalandmarks.org.
Contact Lilly Tavarez with comments at lilly.tavarez@bsu.edu.
