00;00;00;01 - 00;00;08;21 Stephanie Wiechmann Scott Truex heads the Department of Urban Planning at Ball State University, but 40 years ago he was a graduate student working in another Muncie community design center. 00;00;08;24 - 00;00;36;19 Scott Truex We opened up one on Walnut Plaza, downtown Muncie. At that time, four blocks of the downtown have been closed. The businesses that began to move out and the mall had been built. So there was pretty dead downtown. So having a place where we could stage meetings, have community leaders in, create dialog, engage students in projects that would, be of value to the community. 00;00;36;21 - 00;00;49;26 Scott Truex It's somewhat ironic now to open up, 40 years later, a place in the mall to have a conversation of how do we save the mall is a critical part of the economic picture of the community. 00;00;49;28 - 00;01;01;18 Stephanie Wiechmann The Ball State Design Center is renting a nearly 9000 square foot space that used to house the Dress Barn on the mall's north side. That large size is important for 2020 while we're still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. 00;01;01;20 - 00;01;20;13 Scott Truex Normally at my studio, space is about 1200 square feet. I have 9000 here. So we're able to spread out, have the classes, and then we've got a lot of room with the exhibit areas and where we can even hold some, public meetings and keep the distancing. That's critical. 00;01;20;20 - 00;01;27;02 Stephanie Wiechmann Truex says getting students involved in real world issues means their projects become community conversation points. 00;01;27;05 - 00;01;40;21 Scott Truex We do a ton of work that that ends up just in the hallways of the College of Architecture and Planning Building. But when we can bring that out and create, more community dialog, we think that's a big advantage to everyone. 00;01;40;23 - 00;01;58;22 Stephanie Wiechmann Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour has been publicly supporting the future of the mall since his March State of the city address. He says the property has the second largest assessed value in the city, so its tax revenue is an important part of the city's coffers. The Muncie Mall is currently owned by a management company that's actively managing it, while trying to sell it to someone else. 00;01;58;26 - 00;02;03;16 Stephanie Wiechmann And right now, he says he's pleased to see the mall is willing to get creative with its tenants. 00;02;03;22 - 00;02;20;13 Dan Ridenour It just indicates how creative she is willing to be and that company is willing to be. And I've talked before that, that you're going to have to be creative to fill that type of space. With the big box retailers having their challenges, the small retailers are doing great. 00;02;20;18 - 00;02;31;16 Stephanie Wiechmann Because of national corporate bankruptcies and closures, the mall will soon be without any anchor. Department stores and many other storefronts are dark. Truex, like Ridenour, still sees life in the building. 00;02;31;19 - 00;02;57;02 Scott Truex There are just a lot of people who come out here to walk. It's an amazing amenity for, safety, for climate control in terms of coming in when it's real hot. And there's actually quite a few people I see walking by with the bag shopping. Even though we've lost the box stores there. Is that this sort of B level, retail that's still hanging on. 00;02;57;04 - 00;03;09;26 Stephanie Wiechmann The Community Design Center is being financially supported by the city of Muncie and several area commissions, nonprofits and community groups. Truex says he wants to hear everyone's ideas on the future of the city and on the mall property itself. 00;03;10;03 - 00;03;21;03 Scott Truex We're just getting things populated now, but will we're going to want to get their thoughts. What are they looking for? Why do they come out here? What would enhance their experiences here? 00;03;21;06 - 00;03;27;10 Stephanie Wiechmann Plus, Truex says there's no shortage of parking. In Muncie, Stephanie Wiechmann, IPR news.