Muncie breaks ground on new subdivision in mayor’s push for new housing

Muncie’s mayor is welcoming new subdivision projects into the city and has broken ground on one of them this week.  As IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports, bringing new homes to Muncie is something the mayor has long talked about to increase the city’s population.

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00;00;00;02 - 00;00;29;00 Thomas Ouellette Along Morrison Road and towards the roundabout with Jackson Street. A new subdivision called Mason Ridge will feature 126 single family homes, each with 3 to 4 bedrooms. Prices will start in the high 200 thousand dollar range. Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour points to a census study that says 8000 people drive into Delaware County for work every day. He says subdivisions like Mason Ridge are designed to attract some of those commuters and make them permanent residents. 00;00;29;06 - 00;00;39;21 Dan Ridenour This will provide that opportunity, help provide some of that opportunity for some of those people to say, I will live here. The more people that live here, the better off we are in our local economy. 00;00;39;25 - 00;01;03;25 Thomas Ouellette HomeBuilder D.R. Horton will build a Mason Ridge after building homes for store estates. Company officials say the plan is to have the first model home built and ready for a grand opening in around 8 to 10 months. Earlier this year, right now we're announced another subdivision called Steeplechase, with housing prices starting at 450 thousand dollars. I'm Thomas Ouellette in Muncie.

Along Morrison Road and towards the roundabout with Jackson Street, a new subdivision called Mason Ridge will feature 126 single family homes, each with three to four bedrooms. Prices will start in the high $200,000 range.

The development will take up about 37 acres and will feature a small area dedicated to a children’s playground and a gazebo.

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour points to a census study that says 8,000 people drive into Delaware County for work every day. He says subdivisions like Mason Ridge are designed to attract some of those commuters and make them permanent residents.

“This will provide that opportunity, help provide some of that opportunity for some of those people to say, I will live here,” he said. “And the more people that live here, the better off we are in our local economy.”

Home builder D.R. Horton will build Mason Ridge, after building homes for Storer Estates. Company officials say the plan is to have the first model home built and ready for a grand opening in around eight to ten months.

Lee Philips, Land Acquisition Manager for D.R. Horton, says one of the biggest draws for Mason Ridge is its “new” status. 

“There hasn’t been a lot of new home construction in Muncie over the last several years,” said Philips. “So an option for newer home, both ranch and two story homes, gives people an opportunity to move into a great neighborhood.”

Earlier this year, Ridenour announced another subdivision called Steeplechase with housing prices starting at $450,000.

Housing is a theme Ridenour has brought up year after year in his annual State of the City speeches and paying close attention to the housing market.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer. Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu