City of Muncie hopes to create housing near new jail

The city of Muncie hopes to attract a developer who will build houses on city-owned property adjacent to the site of Delaware County's planned jail.

The Muncie Redevelopment Commission on Thursday gave the go-ahead for advertising to attract a developer of houses on 35 acres of city land near the former ASONS and Wilson Middle School on the city's far southwest side.

Delaware County plans to turn the building into a $45-million, 500-bed jail, and MRC director Todd Donati, the city's economic development officer, said a developer that's expressed "some interest" in building houses on the city property is fully aware of the county's jail plans.

"People are familiar there's a jail coming," Donati said.

Donati won the MRC's approval to advertise for developers in hopes of attracting the interested company or another.