Muncie begins work in McKinley and Whitely neighborhoods with READI state grant money

Muncie officials say the city is kicking off its first project with state READI grant money in the McKinley and Whitely neighborhoods.  As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, improvements to areas near the city’s high school and career center are being paid for out of a regional $15 million award.

When presented to the state, the McKinley Live-Learn Neighborhood Initiative talked of cleaning up the neighborhood across from the city’s high school by acquiring blighted riverfront properties and giving homeowners grants to repair their homes.

Read More: East Central region prioritizes spending READI grant money on housing

Now, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour says the Whitely neighborhood has been added.  Whitely sits near the Muncie Area Career Center, where students go for vocational training classes.

Ridenour says the project’s final form adds intersection and street improvements at Walnut and Columbus, and improvements from Walnut to the Cardinal Greenway – four blocks away.

Sidewalk work has been started on Elm Street and the city says a traffic study of the area has been ordered.  As for the homeowner grants, the city says the application process is now being developed and will be announced later.

Read More: Muncie announces more new home construction as Muncie Land Bank talks of vacant properties

The state grant money will fund the first phase of the project, but it comes with a caveat that private and local investment must be included.