Downtown Development leadership announced; Land Bank reports inventory and grants

Vicky Beach, identified herself as CEO of the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, thanked the commission for years of collaboration and introduced Amanda Holmquist as the partnership’s new executive director. Holmquist said she has completed about six weeks on the job, has been meeting stakeholders and plans to return in spring to outline the group’s priorities and partnership with the commission. She also promoted an April 4 “Magic City Sip and Savor” downtown event at Majak’s featuring local breweries, wineries and small bites from Ball State University and Ivy Tech.

Nate Howard of the Muncie Land Bank briefed the commission on operations: the land bank holds roughly 45 properties, is in a "holding moment" for inventory and is pursuing a new strategic plan. Howard said the land bank received a rapid grant from the Ball Brothers Foundation to support photographic and video documentation of work in the old West End and that state administrative approvals will allow certain projects to begin. "We have roughly 45 properties in our inventory right now," Howard said. He also noted staffing includes one full-time staff member and interns and that the land bank is working with neighborhood stakeholders and partners including Habitat for Humanity on predevelopment and planning.