RACER Trust, Ross Community Center, Inc., Complete Sale of Land in Muncie, IN
MUNCIE, IN — RACER Trust and Ross Community Center, Inc., today announced the completion of a sale that will result in new recreational opportunities for families on the Southside of Muncie.
Ross Community Center has purchased approximately six acres of the former GM Manual Transmissions of Muncie property off West 8th Street, with plans to build baseball fields and other recreational facilities. The land formerly was used for employee parking, and is across West 8th Street from the former manufacturing facilities.
RACER Trust took ownership of the former GM property in 2011. The remainder of the property, approximately 60 acres on the north side of West 8th Street, remains available for purchase and redevelopment.
“RACER Trust works closely with community leaders to understand their priorities for redevelopment, and we work very hard to align our sales efforts with the community’s desires,” said Elliott P. Laws, of EPLET, LLC, administrative trustee of RACER Trust. “We’re delighted to help the City of Muncie fulfill an identified need for additional recreational fields and open space, while continuing to work toward securing a buyer who will bring new investment and jobs to the larger parcel.”
Design of the new recreational facilities is expected to begin in January, with phase 1 construction beginning mid-year 2016.
The parcel is bordered by South Elliott Street to the east and South Sampson Avenue to the west, and abuts current Ross Community Center recreational areas.
“We are excited to get started and look forward to creating new recreational opportunities to benefit the Southside and all of Muncie,” said Megan Quirk, President of Ross Community Center, Inc.
“This is great news for the City of Muncie,” Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler said. “I am thrilled for the families of the Southside and especially the Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood. This is the kind of investment that has profoundly positive impacts on the entire city. Individuals and companies evaluate quality of life when making investment decisions, and a community’s recreational opportunities speak volumes. This is another example of Muncie’s commitment to strong neighborhoods and strong families.”
About RACER Trust: The RACER (Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response) Trust was created to clean up and position for redevelopment properties and other facilities owned by the former General Motors Corp. before its 2009 bankruptcy. RACER is one of the largest holders of industrial property in the United States and is the largest environmental response and remediation trust in U.S. history. When the Trust was formed, it owned properties at 89 locations in 14 states, principally in the Midwest and Northeast. The Trust, which is independent, was created by a settlement agreement in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court between the U.S. Government, the 14 states where the former GM properties are located, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, which owns land adjoining Trust property in Massena, NY. For more information, please visit www.racertrust.org.
About Ross Community Center, Inc.: The mission of the Ross Community Center, Inc. is to build community and lessen neighborhood tensions by providing and promoting programs, services, and activities for the advancement of education, health, and wellness in our diverse community. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/RossCenterInc/