An Urban Planning Study Essay Research Paper

An Urban Planning Study Essay, Research Paper An Urban Planning Study The region of study we have chosen, Tillotson, south from University to Jackson, east on Jackson to McKinley, is of major importance to the Muncie area. This locale is home to the communities medical care facilities, as well as commercial and residential properties. The Ball Memorial Hospital is an employer to over 2500 people in the area. In addition, numerous facilities within the medical campus provide supplemental care facilities to the community of Muncie and its surrounding areas. To the south of the medical campus, the intersection of Tillotson and Jackson, a diverse number of commercial properties exist. These businesses provide numerous services, ranging from pharmacy and convenience stores to gas

stations and auto repair. As Jackson moves to the east, residential properties and independently owned businesses become more prominent. These residential properties are for the most part rental units directed towards the student population of Muncie. The majority of activity that exists in the area is related to Ball Memorial Hospital and the surrounding medical facilities. As a result of the medical facilities, the area s commercial ventures benefit from the flow of traffic. Tillotson is a major north south thoroughfare, connecting the southwest sector of Muncie and any traffic off of State Road 332. Jackson is a major east-west boulevard connecting the downtown area through the west side of town. This provides access for the residential area of Jackson Street to various other

commercial services through a major access road. In addition, the St. Mary s Catholic Church is a spiritual cornerstone for the students of the university as well as the community. In short, a variety of activities occur within this sector of Muncie, providing medical, commercial, residential, and spiritual services. The majority of traffic is created by the existence of the medical campus and Ball Memorial Hospital. The surrounding convenience shops benefit from this influx of traffic. Traffic congests at rush hour due to the fact that Tillotson remains a major north-south road and Jackson still exists as a main thoroughfare of east-west travel. This area of town has experienced numerous changes throughout the past five to ten years. The location of the hospital has influenced

several outpatient and supplemental medical services to develop in the proximity. This is evident by the copious amounts of independent medical service providers in the surrounding area. This is expected to continue, especially with the recent addition of the Edward E. Ball Cancer Research Center. The increase in medical facilities and outpatient services warranted new commercial ventures over the past several years. The CVS pharmacy, with its late hour food mart, the Speedway gas station and several nearby financial institutions are proof of such development. Unfortunately, the area s residential units have not experienced as much of a windfall in growth. Very little new construction is apparent in the area, and the existing units show minimal signs of rehabilitation. The

residential area merely seems to have been maintained in order to facilitate its purpose as rental property. These rental properties are mainly directed towards the student population. Development is expected to continue within the medical complex, leading to more commercial development at the intersection of Jackson and Tillotson. This development will however more than likely lead to the demise or relocation of several entrepreneurs in the area of the Jackson and Tillotson intersection. The small businesses along Jackson that exist within the predominantly residential area will more than likely persevere with continued local support. These smaller businesses along Jackson maintain a lower overhead and require less income to survive; the newer establishments that will inhabit