High-rise replaces Chauncey Hill

The Area Plan Commission approved every project presented in Wednesday night's meeting, including a 13-story high-rise that will replace the Chauncey Hill Mall and a new building for the Wesley Foundation at Purdue.

Chauncey Hill, a strip mall at the corner of Chauncey Avenue and State Street, is now fully closed down. Core Lafayette Chauncey, the same people who designed the Hub, are planning on putting a "mixed use" high-rise called Hub Chauncey which will include retail, office and apartments, according to a staff report from Hub Chauncey.

The high-rise will include 681 apartment units, approximately 36,554 square feet of commercial space and 544 parking spaces in an underground garage, according to the agenda for the APC.

The design will reconstruct the strip mall and change the aesthetic from a more car-centric to pedestrian-centric space, according to a staff report from the APC.

Ryan O'Gara, the executive director of the Tippecanoe County APC presented the project. He said the developers would keep the L-shape of Chauncey Hill but instead of keeping a parking lot there, it would instead be replaced by a park with outdoor seating, a stage and landscaping.

"It is truly live, work and play," O'Gara said.

O'Gara said this would complete "the puzzle" that the Hub, Rise and Verve started.

Some people in the audience were worried about the pricing of the housing, like Cheryl Kirkpatrick, a West Lafayette resident, when she asked who the apartments were really for.

"I'd like to know how much a graduate student makes as a stipend if they're going to Purdue and they're going for a master's degree," Kirkpatrick said.

Kirkpatrick said she had heard that it would be $1,800 per month for an apartment in Hub Chauncey, which they responded that she was confusing the price with a number from another project.

They did not give an estimate for how expensive the apartments would actually be.

Tejas Lodaya, an alumni from Purdue, said he paid $425 per month after rent was split between him and his roommates at his apartment and he is worried how anyone will be able to afford these more expensive apartments.

"$1800 is absurd in my opinion," Lodaya said. "I don't know how these kids will afford this."

The commission unanimously approved Hub Chauncey and it will now go before the West Lafayette city council on Sept. 3. O'Gara said if it goes through they will start building in December and it will last for around 32 months.

Wesley Foundation at Purdue

The Wesley Foundation at Purdue also had a project approved unanimously by the commission.

The Wesley Foundation had been on State Street for 100 years but the Mitch Daniels School of Business expanded onto their location. The foundation did a swap with Purdue and now will be at 101 Waldron Street.

The foundation will add additional housing and religious services to the students, said Brian Landon who represented the petitioner.

"Wesley's program is not changing as a result of this location," Landon said. "Their vision remains open hearts, open minds and open doors, and they're excited about the new building and new opportunities that it will create."