(La Porte, IN) - It appears an old school building in La Porte will be torn down to make way for new housing.

 

 

The La Porte Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday approved plans to demolish the former Washington school and replace it with 17 town homes at Bach and Roosevelt Streets.

 

Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said he believes the homes would be a good match for a neighborhood that hasn’t seen new housing construction in decades.  “I do think it looks pretty consistent with what’s there by today’s standards,” he said.

 

The project received tax credits from the state as incentive to help offset the cost of the work.  The hope is to begin construction in the summer.  Resident Susan Antoszewski said her fears about the project include lower property values and homes not being aesthetically pleasing with existing dwellings.

 

“I invite all of you to drive through pole town.  They’ll stick out like a sore thumb.  It will not match anything in the neighborhood,” she said.  Cook said the homes will be affordable workforce-type housing offered on a rent to own basis.