That McGalliard Road field

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  Homer Bradburn was assured Monday that he finally will see development on that vacant land along McGalliard Road near Oakwood Avenue when a $15 million housing project offering furnished apartments to Ball State University students is built. The proposed Campus Crest development with money and management in Charlotte, N.C. got the zoning its needed Monday from Muncie City Council to proceed with the first big apartment projects in recent years.

For nearby Layne Crest homeowners, it was a heartbreak to see more traffic and drainage problems come to their neighborhood despite assurances from the developer's attorney, Scott Shockley, that 216 apartments on 10 acres of land would not destroy the neighborhood. Shockley added a three-foot buffer would be built between the neighborhood and apartments.

Misty King, president of Anthony Northside Neighborhood Association, said the project was twice the density of other apartments and that traffic was a concern with hundreds of more cars along McGalliard and Oakwood. Shockley said the only access to the development would be on McGalliard, and there already were assurances from the developer and Muncie Sanitary District that new storm drainage would correct problems on McGalliard. Sanitary Board President Tom Bennington made that promise, saying a 54-inch storm sewer would be more than enough to handle storm water. More that 30 people stood when asked by Liz Dailey who opposed the apartments. She also called out council member Jerry Dishman, a Democrat, when he promised to protect property values when he sought and won re-election.  

Another resident, Sarah Humphery shouted out Occupy the Field suggesting that government was not supported the will of the people but the money behind the apartments.  

Republican Jim Arnold has opposed the development, saying it would reduce property values, increase blight, and went against the Metropolitan Plan Commission that voted against rezoning the property for multi-family housing.

Council voted 5-3 to pass the zoning with council member Mike King abstaining because of a conflict being an official at a bank that obviously had a financial interest in he project. Dishman along with council President Sam Marshall voted to rezone the property along with council members Julius Anderson,  Mary Jo Barton, and Mark Conaster.

Council members Linda Gregory, Brad Polk and Alison Quirk voted no. Some residents cried, other wondered what they would do with their homes while some just  criticized council.

Matt Weaver, a Ball State neighborhood landlord, said he might be buying some of the houses for rentals when people leave the neighborhood. "Greed is a word, but it is a living," he said.  Bob Huddleston, a longtime Muncie businessman, said Bradburn had a right to develop the property, adding people did not ask for McGalliard Road to be built in their front yards.

The project will provide new and available housing to Ball State students as the university continues to grow besides provide jobs and business during construction and operation of the development.