Council approves development
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
The West Lafayette City Council passed its final
vote on Monday night that will allow a new mixed-use development to
be built on the corner of State Street and Andrew Place.
Barret Morris, owner of the property that will
host the new building, said he would begin the process of finding tenants
for the retail portion of the building this morning in Indianapolis.
Morris said he expects the construction of the
development to begin June 1 and for its completion by April 1.
Joe Bumbleburg, the State Street Commons, LLC attorney,
said that the building will be constructed primarily with brick and
that it will provide an urban look.
The owners and developers have worked with city
officials to create restrictions that would prohibit any bars from going
into the commercial portion of the building. Restaurants with liquor
licenses will be permitted, but limitations on serving hours will prohibit
restaurants from selling alcohol in the morning hours; thus, this building
will not participate in the tradition of breakfast club.
Another ordinance that was passed will implement
the rezoning of several areas in West Lafayette, including the New Chauncey
Neighborhood Area.
Supporters of the ordinance spoke before the council
saying that this would not change any living arrangements that involve
Purdue students.
The rezoning only prohibits the future ability
for homeowners to tear down their homes to create apartment complexes,
said Jan Mills, city council member for the 2nd district.
Carl Griffin, president of the New Chauncey Neighborhood
Association, spoke in favor of the ordinance saying that he represented
several members of the New Chauncey Neighborhood area.
A landlord and homeowner who resides in the area
that will be rezoned spoke in opposition of the ordinance saying that
by rezoning his property area from R2 to R1, a loss in value of his
property would result. He said that when he purchased his property originally,
it was zoned as R3 and has since decreased in value because of the re-zoning
that has taken place in the past. He said the new ordinance would devalue
his property even further.
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