(La Porte, IN) - New housing where an old bakery in La Porte once stood could become a reality soon.

La Porte City Planner Craig Phillips said a deal with a developer to purchase the old Tibma Bakery site could be completed sometime in March. The plan is to build about a half dozen affordable homes where the bakery once stood well over a half-century near the Civic Auditorium.

The sizeable vacant structure was torn down over a year ago. All debris was removed and grass planted on the level site, making it ready for building. 

“We’re following through. By March, we’ll have an agreement here,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.

Generations grew up to the smell of bread baking at the facility, which had not been a bakery for at least a couple of decades.

The dilapidated building was considered a safety hazard and blight on the neighborhood when the decision was made to find the $100,000 required to have it torn down.