Old West End Neighborhood

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History

The Old West End Historic District is an area of roughly 28 city blocks located on the west edge of Muncie’s central business district. The area is largely residential with some commercial uses along State Road 32 (West Jackson Street) and Liberty Street. Structures in the district represent a range of architectural styles dating from the mid-nineteenth century to early twentieth centuries. The district contains the largest collection of late Victorian residential architecture in the city. The majority of the houses in the district were built between 1880 and 1915, during the “gas boom” era in Muncie. Muncie’s “west end” differed much from the city’s more fashionable “east end” in that many of its residents were descendants of early pioneers whose fortunes were made prior to the industrialized success of the late 1880’s. Many of the residences are large and elegant homes of frame or brick construction with extensive exterior details and embellishments. The Queen Anne style, and derivatives, are prevalent throughout the district, but the Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Foursquare, Colonial Revival and Bungalow styles are among the other late 19th- early 20th century modes represented. For more information about the history of the Old West End, please visit the Historic Muncie website at http://www.historicmuncie.org/history/.

In 2015, a Ball State University immersive learning class under the direction of history professor Ronald Morris created an interactive website to share the interesting histories of Muncie’s founding families, gas boom barons and military veterans. Explore Beech Grove Cemetery includes about 50 biographies as well as bike routes, a list of monuments and a geocaching experience. Established 1841, the cemetery which is located within the Old West End neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Neighborhood Association Meetings

The Old West End neighborhood association meets every 4th Tuesday of every other month (Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Dec) at 6:30 pm at the Friends Memorial Church, 418 W. Adams St., Muncie, IN 47305. All are welcome.

On the Web

Website – https://sites.google.com/site/oldwestendneighborhood/

FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/OldWestEndNeighborhoodAssociation

Email – oldwestend@gmail.com

Neighborhood Action Plan

UPDATED: 2018 Old West End Neighborhood Action Plan

In the fall of 2013, students from Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning under the direction of BSU Faculty member Lisa Dunaway, worked alongside residents to create the Old West End Neighborhood Action Plan (OWENAP). The student project won several prestigious awards, including the national American Planning Association’s AICP Student Project Award in 2014 and the 2015 Hoosier Planning Award for Outstanding Student Project.

To learn more about the plan itself you may read the OWENAP narrative or watch this video created by Ball State telecommunications students.

https://vimeo.com/126297886

Neighborhood Map

Old West End map (pdf)

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Ball State University Neighborhood

History:

Ball State University was founded in 1899 when Muncie business leaders, including the Ball family, envisioned a local college for private teacher training in the hopes of boosting the city’s development.  Over the years the campus has been a temporary home to thousands of students and faculty for the duration of their on-campus educational experience.  Read more about Ball State’s general history here.

Every year about 40 percent of Ball State’s on-campus student body choose to live in one of their 31 residence halls or 2 apartment complexes.

Neighborhood Association Meetings:

The Ball State Neighborhood is made up primarily of the non-local students who reside in on campus facilities such as residence halls or University owned apartment complexes. Due to the unique and somewhat transitory makeup of this neighborhood’s residents, they do not have a traditional neighborhood association.  Instead, Ball State offers its student residents a myriad of ways to get involved both on campus, and with the local community. Student Life helps to oversee the more than 400 student organizations, leadership development programs, community service opportunities, and multi-cultural organizations that help enrich the residential experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwlkinm2rAw

On the Web:

Ball State Housing and Residence Life

Campus Life

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Neighborhood Maps:

Residence Hall and Campus Apartments Location Map

Ball State Campus Map

Virtual Tour

Print-friendly Campus Map (pdf)

Print-friendly Visitor’s Parking Map (pdf)

Campus Buildings

Campus Shuttle Buses

Disability Access

Escort Services (Charlie’s Charter)

To learn more about how to get involved in the campus community, please visit Ball State Housing and Residence Life.

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Minnetrista Neighborhood

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About

Minnetrista Central is a welcoming neighborhood that offers a variety of amenities and is conveniently located at the heart of Muncie. Friendly neighbors, charming historical homes, and impressive tree-lined streets make living in this serene neighborhood a delight. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound: Walk or ride on the City’s two premier greenway trails that intersect our community and follow the scenic horseshoe bend of the White River. Hike through the nature area and explore the many manicured gardens at Minnetrista. And while you’re there, take advantage of the walkable distance to the local farmers market, experience world-class arts and cultural exhibits, and stand in the exact spot Bob Ross filmed The Joy of Painting. Take a selfie with the affectionately nicknamed “Chief Munsee,” give your five senses a whirl at the Delaware County Fair, and enjoy a 4th of July fireworks show from your front porch. All this and more can be found in Muncie’s hidden gem of a neighborhood.

History

llballThe five Ball brothers, Frank Clayton Ball, Edmund Burke Ball, Lucius Lorenzo Ball, William Charles Ball, and George Alexander Ball, moved to Muncie between 1888 and 1897 during this time of expansion and prosperity. In 1894, Frank, Edmund and George purchased approximately 30 acres of land on a bluff above the White River. The property was located north of the Muncie city limits and extended from Wheeling Pike to the Children’s Home near the intersection of Walnut and Granville Pikes and extending back several hundred feet. A boulevard was to be built along the bluff. When the Children’s Home moved to nearby Yorktown, Frank purchased that property. Family lore says that the Ball sisters, Lucina and Frances, selected the name Minnetrista for the land by joining the word “minne” for water and “trista” meaning gathering place. Here, between 1894 and 1907, the brothers constructed the homes in which they would live for the remainder of their lives. The wealth that they acquired through their enterprises allowed them to build impressive homes, which now comprise the Minnetrista Boulevard Historic District. The homes that were built in the surrounding area became part of what would be known as the Minnetrista neighborhood. This neighborhood boasts an eclectic mix of large and small homes and a resident population of both homeowners and renters.

Neighborhood Association Meetings

The Minnetrista Neighborhood Association meets quarterly at 7:00 pm in the Cantina Room at the Minnetrista Cultural Center. 2024 meetings will be held March 11, July 8, and October 14. All are welcome.

Minutes of the Neighborhood Association Meetings can be found here. You can contact them directly at minnetristacentral@gmail.com

On the Web

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Minnetrista-Central-Neighborhood-Association/148766048539765

Neighborhood Action Plan: https://minnetristamckinleyplan.wordpress.com/

Documents

Minnetrista map (pdf)
Articles of Incorporation (pdf)
By-Laws (pdf)

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Anthony-Northside Neighborhood

History

The Anthony-Northside Neighborhood includes the Layne Crest subdivision, which was created in 1960 by contractor Bob Layne as a single-family residential addition. It is a quiet neighborhood and one of the few neighborhoods surrounding the Ball State University campus that is almost completely owner-occupied.

The approximately 10.55 acres along McGalliard Road (referred to as the “Bradburn property”) has been in constant turmoil since the late 1960’s when Bob Layne sought to vacate the plat for commercial development. This action led to a long legal battle that ultimately landed in the Indiana Court of Appeals in 1973 and with a permanent injunction granted against any commercial use of the land of Layne Crest. Numerous attempts since then were made to rezone the property. Each time, the property owners sought to maintain the character of their neighborhood and protect the integrity of the properties.

In March 2012 the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance request for the Bradburn property and a 216-unit development was eventually built on the site. Located along McGalliard road with access off of Oakwood Dr., the Grove Apartments are marketed towards off-campus college students attending Ball State University.

Anthony-Northside Gateway Project

Neighborhood Association Meetings

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The Anthony-Northside Neighborhood Association meets at Community Fellowship FourSquare Church, 2408 N Oakwood Ave, on the 3rd Thursday of odd months at 6:30 pm. All are welcome.

On the Web

Webpage – http://www.muncieanna.com/

Email – info@muncieanna.com or aneff@muncieanna.com

Action Plan – https://anthonyneighborhoodplan.wordpress.com/

Neighborhood Map

Anthony-Northside map (pdf)

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McKinley Neighborhood

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Neighborhood Association Meetings

The McKinley Neighborhood Association meets on the 4th Thursday of every month, 6:00 pm at Muncie Central High School, 801 N Walnut. All are welcome.

Neighborhood Newsletters

November 2014 Newsletter

On the Web

Neighborhood Action Plan: https://minnetristamckinleyplan.wordpress.com/

Neighborhood Map

McKinley map (pdf)

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