(La Porte, IN) - A different looking 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store will be going up soon in La Porte.  The location might be a good way to gauge public perception of the new design because of the volume of traffic passing the new store once built.  The 7-Eleven will be at Pine Lake Avenue and Truesdell Avenue, one of the busiest intersections in the city. 

 

"It’s really a cool design for the building and it’ll sit very nicely on the site,” said Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership.

 

The long-established chain store will replace Spoor’s Auto Sales, which has been there for 30-years or more.  Tom Casey, the city’s Director of Planning and Development, said the 7-Eleven will start being constructed following demolition which should begin in early May.

 

Casey said he asked for the new 7-Eleven design used sparingly, so far, to compliment the aesthetics of the city’s lakes and other aspects of nature relied on more heavily for economic revitalization.  Casey also said the store will add to the changing landscape of the area brought on by development across the street at New Porte Landing, a former industrial site that’s been cleaned up.

 

Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Dunes Event Center went up several years ago at New Porte Landing where 200 resort type apartments are now being constructed.  Also in the works close to New Porte Landing is a possible kayak launch at the former Don George Ford property.

 

Casey said the less than one-acre parcel will be sold preferably to a developer wanting to put up a restaurant with a deck overlooking Lily Lake.  “That’s what we’re working on.  Something that incorporates what we’re trying to do as a city which is tie everything to our natural resources,” Casey said.

 

Cook said two houses beside the former car lot will also be torn down as part of the 7-Eleven development.