(La Porte, IN) - Future maintenance of the brick sidewalks and other infrastructure in downtown La Porte has become an issue.

 

For years, property owners in the Business Improvement District have paid a separate tax to help maintain downtown, but those funds are no longer enough.

 

One reason is the brick sidewalks, brick planters and other downtown amenities were put in about 25 years ago and more work is needed now to keep up on their maintenance.

 

Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said there are more than 130 brick planters downtown and some have been damaged over the years in collisions by motor vehicles.  

 

He said potential options include property owners in the district paying a higher tax to generate more revenue for maintenance.

 

“It’s particularly challenging when you see someone hit a planter, which has happened numerous times in the downtown. We don’t possess the resources to keep that infrastructure up,” he said.

 

Cook said a number of the decorative trees downtown have also died from reaching their lifespan and need replacing. Other maintenance needs include electrical work for decorative lighting in the district.

 

The issue was discussed last night during a Small Business Roundtable at City Hall.