Contamination from closed mill looms over Indiana neighborhood

September 23, 2007 - Sprawling over acres of land along East Jackson Street between downtown Muncie and eastside neighborhoods, Indiana Steel and Wire sits like an ugly gray roadblock to efforts to improve and beautify the city's east side.

After a century of manufacturing springs, fencing and wire cable, the "wire mill" -- as it was popularly known -- was shuttered in 2002 after years of financial troubles and, ultimately, bankruptcy.

Since then, the only activity at the site has been ongoing clean-up of lead-laced toxic waste.

Eastside residents -- as well as former employees -- wish the facility was operating again.

Or at least cleaned up.

Until that happens, the site will continue to be an eyesore and a hindrance to eastside development, officials say.

"Until the environmental [contamination] is totally cleaned up, there's not a lot you can do with the property," said Terry Murphy of the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance.

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