MUNCIE, Ind. — On Monday night’s Muncie City Council meeting, the replacement for the South Madison Community Center was discussed throughout the evening. Councilor William McIntosh, who last month was appointed to be council’s representative on the Community Center Advisory Committee, gave a report from the committee’s May 21st meeting held at 1910 S. Mock Ave, a property recently obtained from the Muncie Mission in exchange for the Muncie Crisis Center, 809 W. 8th St.

Ever since a 2002 Hope VI Grant had homes in the area of the center demolished, including the original 900 S. Madison St. location of the center, the promise of bringing a new community center to Industry neighborhood has been on hold for over 20 years. McIntosh told council and the audience that he questioned whether input from the Muncie community would be used.

“I feel that Resolution 15-25 has been disrespected and manipulated by this current administration.” McIntosh said. “I would like this council to consider the results of my report of the community youth center’s first meeting. Do we really need a committee? My personal thoughts are the 20+ years of waiting for the City of Muncie to do the right thing that it promised is never going to happen.”

Since July, a portion of Heekin Park has been considered for a new location, though the 1910 S. Mock Ave location has been considered for the center. Both Republicans and Democrats on council agreed that the community center should be placed in Industry neighborhood.

Several people in the audience spoke during public comment, including committee member Lezlie McCrory who announced that she would be resigning because she also believed the Mock Street location was going to be used. Wayne Scaife, who has been vocal about bringing back the community center for over ten years, also objected to the use of the location.