Muncie’s mayor says the first draft of a feasibility study supports building a hotel on Muncie’s east side.

Mayor Dan Ridenour has been championing several economic development initiatives, including an east side hotel, since taking office in 2020.  On Thursday, he told the Muncie Redevelopment Commission that a preliminary study recommends at least one hotel on that side of Muncie.

“Their recommendation is a 55-room, four-story hotel that did include a pool and a bar and lounge,” he said.

Ridenour says the report is still being added to, so a final version is not yet available.  But he says it finds traffic near the Muncie U.S.-35 bypass and large new facilities like CANPACK would be successful draws to fill hotel rooms.  It recommends four different sites on the east side to consider.

Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler also championed a hotel project when he led the city.   Courtyard by Mariott was finished in late 2015 and connects to the Horizon Convention Center. A new hotel is also planned for near Ball State University, next to a new university performing arts center.

Ridenour did not tell the redevelopment commission members when they’ll get the final feasibility study.