$105 million Purdue west plan passes first hurdle

West Lafayette City Council voted 8-0-1 Monday to an agreement with Purdue Research Foundation that officials hope will spur developments in the area known as Discovery Park District. Council member David Sanders abstained. 

"It's a win-win situation," West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis said.

Under the agreement, Purdue Research Foundation will spend $106 million over the next 30 years to build infrastructure in the district. About $30 million will be spent in the first five years. The foundation is a private entity that's in charge of much of the university's real estate. 

"This district has very little usable infrastructure," Purdue legal counsel Steven R. Schultz said.

Schultz said the standard sources of infrastructure funding are not available. The city doesn't have excess cash, and the tax increment financing district west of Purdue only produces $15,000 a year.