Notice from City of Muncie Building Department. Photo by Muncie Folk Collective
01.26.2024
The Muncie Inn, 414 N. Madison St., is being vacated after a notice this week by the City of Muncie Building Department due to fire hazards. The building has been notorious for its unsafe living environment over the years. According to Building Commissioner Steve Selvey actions started late last week, when a complaint went back and forth being made and reversed between Thursday and Monday. On Wednesday the 24th, 13 units were told to leave immediately and all other units were given 10 days. Although they were given time to leave, management is asking each unit for $200 by 11am today if they want to stay for another week.
Muncie Folk Collective helped tenants all day Thursday move to other spots, but are unsure where they will reside afterwards. Member of the group Sarah Renee said to the Post-Democrat: “Right now it’s a scramble to get them out of there so they don’t have to continue paying. They have temporary places to go, but nothing beyond that.” The group is trying to ensure that management can workout a deal for residents staying longer to pay $40 daily instead of $200 immediately.
The mayors office stated that the people living at Muncie Inn should contact the Muncie Hub and/or the YWCA, though added that “space is limited however so they should be looking for housing ASAP.” Community members are speaking out against the city’s handling of the situation. Holly Juip, former city council candidate, has been crucial in bringing the situation to the attention of several groups in town. She said “while I am an advocate of safe housing and upholding ordinance enforcement, kicking 44 families out of their homes in the winter without a plan for alternative housing is reprehensible.”
Building Commissioner Steve Selvey has been under scrutiny following the news for giving the order without the City of Muncie acting on providing alternative housing for the tenants. Selvey told the Post-Democrat that he believes ten days is adequate timing for the residents and he doesn’t believe his role involves providing alternative housing.
Many believe more could have been done by the City of Muncie. According to Renee “I think there was a definite lack of communication between what was going on and communicating that to the actual individuals and families that are living at the Muncie Inn. When I got there today there were all kinds of things going around, ‘oh we have to pay this’ and ‘we have to do this to stay here’ and everything, so there’s a lot of confusion on that.”
Steve Selvey (right) being sworn in as Building Commissioner by Mayor Dan Ridenour (left) on January 4th. Photo by City of Muncie
Donation times have been created by Muncie Folk Collective for February 1st, 11am-2pm, and February 3rd, 11am-2pm at 100 S Walnut St. (corner of Main and Walnut).
This is just another example of the Mayor’s administration prioritizing real estate over humans. Their failure to have a plan is reprehensible but typical of their approach