Gas City to Build $10M Community Center

Gas City was part of the natural gas boom in east central Indiana in the late 1800s.

Gas City is getting something it’s wanted for a long time – an auditorium. The city and the Mississinewa Community School Corporation jointly announced plans Tuesday to build a $10 million community center, which will include a 1,200-seat auditorium, a meeting room to seat 300 people and a commercial-grade kitchen.

Mayor Larry Leach says the development will not cause homeowner’s taxes to go up. That’s because funding will come from a tax increment financing (TIF) district.

Gas City has three possible locations for the structure, all on the east side of the community. City leaders expect the community center will attract business development.

The facility would be run by the school district. Leach says the center will be able to host student and professional performances but also hold community meetings.

City Clerk Teri Miller says Gas City has been attempting to build a project like this since the 1970s, but it ran into opposition. The city hopes to finish the project be the Fall of 2020.