(La Porte, IN) - Plans for more than 400 new apartment homes in La Porte have crossed their first hurdle. 

 

The city’s Board of Public Works & Safety last week recommended approval for changing the existing zoning from business to residential at a site along the east side of Indiana 39 near Briar Leaf Golf Course.  This is an area annexed into the city over a year ago.

 

As many as 17 higher end apartments would be inside each of the buildings, which resemble upscale houses.  

 

Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said construction would occur in phases over a several year period.  Cook said it’s too early, right now, to estimate the monthly rent to be charged.

 

“I think the developer understands the market well.  They have a desire to make those units as affordable as possible,” Cook said.

 

Some of the adjacent landowners have already expressed concerns like additional traffic from what they believe would be too many homes added to the residential area.  Resident Kathleen Lang also said there hasn’t been sufficient time for she and her neighbors to review the plans to form an opinion.

 

The city council will make the final decision on whether to change the zoning.

 

If approved, Cook said the project still has to cross a number of other steps in the approvals process before it can break ground.

 

“There are a whole host of other things that have to occur in order for this to be a real project,” Cook said.