Ken Hudson, executive director of the White Lake Community Council, presented Oct. 9 on a proposed redevelopment project at 12 East Centennial (near MLK and Centennial) in Muncie and asked the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission for a $300,000 commitment (proposed as $100,000 per year over three years).

Hudson said the project covers roughly five acres and is a two-phase redevelopment of an existing property with three buildings. He described a main building of "just over 17,000 square feet," a renovated pool barn of roughly 3,500 square feet and a variety of planned tenants and services, including Open Door Health Center (health care), Ball State University (tenant), the Delaware County Health Department, Pathstone Corporation (housing and homeownership programs) and other nonprofit partners. Hudson said the organization has raised $4,000,000 of an original $4,500,000 estimate but that a recent roof reassessment added about $85,000 to the cost.

Hudson said the United Way (state-level) is committed at $1,500,000 and that the Community Foundation had awarded $250,000 spread over five years. He described plans for youth programs, a commercial kitchen, a community health center, food pantry operations and other services aimed at addressing social determinants of health on the East Side. Hudson said the project intends to be a "resource hub" that would serve residents from multiple nearby towns and neighborhoods and estimated the service area population at more than 12,000.

Commissioners expressed concern about precedent, the size of the county's contribution relative to larger funders and asked Hudson to first pursue available municipal funding. Commissioner Wigley and others suggested the White Lake team should present what the Muncie Redevelopment Commission may contribute before the county commits. A motion to table the request passed on a roll-call vote with all commissioners voting yes. Commissioners requested additional information and a report on municipal and MRC options before further county action.