Complex to include restaurants, stores

Wabash Landing to attract students with new options

By Morgan Conklin
Summer Reporter

The Purdue community is awaiting the new stores that will soon be available to the city of West Lafayette.

Wabash Landing currently consists of little more than a movie theater and café, but is in the process of adding more stores for the local residents.

The stores that are going to be located in the new development, including a Hallmark, University Spirit and Starbucks, are expected to be open when students return for the fall semester.

The University Spirit located in Chauncey Hill Mall will remain open. The Mayor of Lafayette, Sonya Margerum, said that she doesn’t think that the new construction will affect business in Chauncey. "I think that it will increase possibilities for the area," she said. "Although there is some duplication, the whole concept will be new to West Lafayette."

Students are also showing excitement for the new development. Jill Anderson, a junior in the School of Liberal Arts, said, "I am enthusiastic of all the new attractions to come that will bring the life of Lafayette closer to campus."

Apartments that offer a view of the Wabash River will also be opening. If students choose to live there, access to campus will be made available by a bus depot added to Wabash Landing.

Also available to the patrons of the area is a parking garage that will be open for public use in July.

Among the other amenities for patrons to enjoy is a sitting area with benches that create a nice place for conversation, Margerum said.

Margerum said she is very excited for this because it is the largest change in the Lafayette area in the past 30 years. She said the area used to be occupied by a Sears that went out of business, leaving the levee with few businesses.

The new development offers a large amount of business as well as provides entertainment and restaurants to the community. "It will be tremendous for the city," Margerum said. "It is a construction of a new downtown that West Lafayette has never had."

Tom Barclay, a senior in the School of Management said that he hopes Wabash Landing will have more franchise restaurants available for students. He would like to have an atmosphere that is more student-oriented. "It would be a nice change for Purdue students not to have to expose themselves to the Lafayette locals," he said.

Numerous dedications will be taking place over the next few months as different stores open.

Complex to include restaurants, stores

City begins fire station construction

City updates transportation plan, proposes area changes

Construction to begin next month for apartments, commercial area

CITY DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 250

City editor:
Heather Mangold

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org

Purdue Exponent 2001