New hotel plans could displace citizens if approved tonight
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 06/20/2007
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Plans to bring a new hotel to West Lafayette are being heard tonight, but it could displace some citizens from their homes.
The Tippecanoe County Area Plans Commission will vote on whether or not to rezone an area of land located near Purdue Research Park, off U.S. 52, for a new 121-unit hotel. The rezoning is aimed at making it into a general business area rather than a residential area.
There are six duplexes located on the area where the hotel is hoping to be erected. Several of the duplexes are presently occupied.
Horace Funkhouser lives in one of the duplexes and is heavily opposed to the rezoning. He said it doesn't matter what is going to be built.
"It really doesn't make a difference one way or the other, because if they (the commission) vote 'yes,' all of us people out here are going to have to fucking move ... one way or the other," Funkhouser said. "If they vote 'no' at least we get to stay here.
"I'd rather stay here than have them move us out."
Funkhouser said the location of where he and his family lives is very convenient for them.
"We go to church right up the street here," Funkhouser said. "It's less than a mile to go to church. We're right here by the gas station for gas, we're right here by the shopping center for groceries.
"So I'm not really in favor of them building anything here than what's here."
According to the staff report issued by the Area Plans Commission, Philip Cox, a developer with a Tennessee development firm, intends to raze the duplexes to erect the hotel. The attorney who represents Cox is Dan Teder of Reiling, Teder & Schrier who did not return phone calls for comment.
According to Bianca Klinker, a planner with the Area Plans Commission, the staff gave a recommendation for the approval of the rezoning and believes it is a capital investment.
"The residential future for that area is limited," Klinker said. "This is a good chance to redevelop the property.
"The final vote rest with the county commissioners."
Ultimately the decision to raze the properties rests with property owner. The owner of the lot did not return a message left to comment on the plans.
Whether the commission approves the rezoning request or not, Funkhouser realizes the area will be sold at some point. He also realizes what a financial blow his family will suffer when the time comes to move.
"It would (jeopardize the family) because it's going to cost us a significant amount of more money to move to any new location compared to what we are paying here," Funkhouser said. "Financially, it would put a hardship on the people living here having to move.
"So I'm not in favor really of any change."
The commission will hear the request during it's meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in the County Office Building, 20 N. Third St. in Lafayette.