Ball State University is hoping funding from the Lilly Endowment will help pay for revitalizing the near-campus Village neighborhood.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Ball State first announced new plans for the Village in March of last year in cooperation with Fairmount Properties.  The university will now apply for a grant through the Lilly Endowment’s College and Community Collaboration program that funds projects like what Ball State has in store for the near-campus business district.

The Village development spans five sites near University and McKinley avenues next to campus.  Part will be on land owned by Ball State – like a performing arts center, hotel, restaurant, innovation center, and new space to be leased for retail.  Part will be on land owned by Fairmount Properties – like an activity center and event plaza, a mix of owned and rented townhouses and condos, and potential commercial development.

Ball State President Geoff Mearns says anchoring the revitalization plan around the school’s new performing arts center and stressing an arts theme will connect with existing offerings on campus.

“When the new performing arts center is completed in a couple years, we will have the most concentrated collection of diverse and high-quality arts and culture venues in all of east central Indiana.”

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Construction on most phases is scheduled to begin in summer and fall of 2024.

Lilly has set aside $300 million for the initiative.  Each school applying can receive up to $25 million.  Ball State already received a planning grant from Lilly for the initial Village plans.  The school’s application is due in September.

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