Lafayette/West Lafayette Community Info
Attractive Community
Industry
Major Manufacturers
Retail
Downtown Lafayette
Purdue University
Future Growth
Attractive Community
Welcome to Lafayette - West Lafayette, Indiana - a city recognized
nationally as a top place to live, work, and raise a family, We
offer excellent educational facilities, from top-notch public and
private schools to a world-class university.
There are sprawling parks, museums and theatres, exciting sports action, great
health facilities, many leisure activities and a quality that is most important
of all - community spirit!
The Lafayette - West Lafayette area enjoys a rich and diverse cultural
atmosphere - from world famous performing artists to Indiana's passion -
basketball.
Lafayette - West Lafayette is home to over 300 manufacturing firms, which
include such fields as robotics, biotechnology, food processing,
microelectronics, instrumentation and office/clerical industries. And though
Lafayette - West Lafayette's unemployment rate is below 3 percent, there is an
ample labor pool. All levels of skilled workers are available, largely due to
the area's excellent educational and job-training institutions. Lafayette - West
Lafayette is strategically located for business as well, with 80 percent of the
top U.S. markets within a day's delivery time.
Lafayette - West Lafayette's residents enjoy an excellent standard of living.
This, coupled with low food prices, property taxes, and insurance costs, creates
an upwardly mobile population.
Lafayette - West Lafayette was named the top city in Indiana to reside in and
was also named Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in 2001.
Money magazine ranked Lafayette - West Lafayette number two on its June 1998
listing of the top Midwest small cities in the United States in which to live.
This poll, examined health care facilities, crime rates, the economy, housing,
education, transit, weather, leisure and the arts, proves once again that
Lafayette - West Lafayette is a great place to live. Lafayette - West Lafayette
was also listed 21st out of 300 in the ranking of industry friendly communities
in Industry Week's April 98' issue.
Source: Lafayette-West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
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Industry
Lafayette - West Lafayette's centralized Midwest location, existing
infrastructure and educated, committed workforce make it an
ideal for many industries. Only 24 hours by truck or rail for
delivery to 80 of the top 100 continental U.S. markets.
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Major Manufacturers
- Wabash National
- Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc.
- Eli Lilly & Co.
- Fairfield Manufacturing
- Caterpillar Inc.
- A.E Staley
- TRW Commercial Steering Division
- Oneida Rostone Corp.
- Rea Magnet Wire
- Essex Group
- ALCOA
- Great Lake Chemical
- Lafayette Venetian Blind
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Retail
With the opening of more retail businesses and restaurants this
past year, Lafayette - West Lafayette continues to strengthen its
position as a major regional shopping and dining destination for
the multi-county area.
The area's largest shopping venue is Tippecanoe Mall, at 840,000
SF and more than 100 stores, including Macy's, Kohls, Sears and J.C. Penney stores, and a strong
representation among the major chain retailers. Adjacent to the
mall are Tippecanoe Court and Lafayette Market Place, with about
50 retailers. Market Square Shopping Center serves the north
side of the community with 240,000SF of retail space.
In West Lafayette, commerce is also booming with a new Wal-Mart
store and the renovated University Square, featuring numerous
retail businesses and restaurants. There are a variety of
College boutiques and unique restaurants near Purdue University
campus in West Lafayette.
Wabash Landing, currently under development, is being billed as
an "exciting urban lifestyle center." A grand opening is
scheduled for the Fall of 2000. Wabash Landing will offer
250,000SF of national retail shops, restaurants, movie theatre
and much more! Plus, over 200 apartments with a variety of floor
plans will be an addition to Wabash Landing.
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Downtown Lafayette
Downtown Lafayette continues to grow in its role as the county's
center of finance, county government, legal insurance,
professional service and economic development activities.
Professional services, attorneys, banking and government make up
about 75% of downtown's commerce. The remaining 25 percent are
restaurants, antiques stores, boutiques and specialty stores.
In recent years, more building renovations along Main Street
have produced new storefronts and upper-level apartments. A
major renovation of the entire block housing the historic Lahr
Hotel is now completed, offering commercial space and 70
apartments.
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Purdue University
About 12,500 people work for Purdue University, the county's
largest employer and seventh-largest employer in the state for
its total Indiana employment. Some 37,000 students attend the
West Lafayette campus, one of the largest U.S. universities.
Purdue's economic impact extends to service providers and
retailers throughout the community. Statewide, the university
estimates its economic impact at $2.2 billion, half for direct
expenditures in salaries and expenses, and half in spending by
businesses that supply Purdue.
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Future Growth
Indications are that Lafayette - West Lafayette will continue its current
trend of vitality in the economic sector. This is supported by a
convenient Midwestern location, strong industrial base, a
healthy local economy, and educated and committed workforce, and
manageable growth levels.
New construction of medical facilities and homes and the steady
growth of retail and service sectors continue to develop
Lafayette's role as a regional center. Manufacturing expansion,
commercial development and the availability of newly-rezoned
industrial acreage also signal increased opportunities for
growth in this area.
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Coldwell Banker Shook has a long rich history in the economic, residential, and cultural vitality of central Indiana. The company was founded in 1915 by Robert H. Shook and his son Charles W. Shook. Charles’ sons, Jim and Wes joined the company in the mid 50’s and assumed formal leadership in 1964 following their father’s death. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Jim and Wes’ sons, Jim Jr., Steve, and Charlie joined the company after gaining related business experience in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Detroit. Jim, Steve, and Charlie acquired the company from their fathers in 2002 and will lead it into the new millennium.
The company provides exemplary real estate service in central Indiana through residential offices in Indianapolis and Lafayette. The commercial company, Coldwell Banker Commercial Shook provides real estate services to the same market area from offices in Indianapolis and Lafayette.
The company has seen the communities of central Indiana grow from horse and buggy towns to centers of commerce, healthcare, education, and culture. One of the company’s core beliefs is its long term success can not be greater than the success of the individual communities it serves. As a result, during all four generations of the company’s history, it has consistently played a quiet, but significant, role in the growth and prosperity of central Indiana. They have been leaders in economic development, residential growth, cultural awareness, and political governance. The company played a key role in attracting many industrial concerns to the area. Examples include Eli-Lilly-Tippecanoe Labs, National Homes Corporation, A.E. Staley/Tate and Lyle, Catepillar, Subaru Automotive of Indiana, and Wabash National Corporation. In 1921, the company began a long and important relationship with Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation. It has assisted the University with land acquisition surrounding the campus, residential development in West Lafayette, and commercial development in the Purdue Research Park. Additionally, the company’s personnel have led many cultural and recreational organizations in central Indiana. Recent leadership positions have been with the Symphony, Art Museum, Historic Prophetstown, and Indiana Historic Society.
The owners and staff of Coldwell Banker Shook have been leaders within the local, state, and national real estate associations and economic development organizations. Its owners and managers play key leadership roles with the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, Lafayette Regional Association of Realtors, Indiana Association of Realtors, Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors, Indiana Real Estate Commission, and the National Association of Realtors.
The residential company proudly joined the Coldwell Banker franchise in 1998 and the commercial company affiliated with Coldwell Banker Commercial in 2001. Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, a subsidiary of Cendant, franchises more than 2,600 independently owned and operated real estate offices and has more than 556,000 sales associates throughout North America.
As central Indiana’s real estate needs continue to grow, Coldwell Banker Shook and Coldwell Banker Commercial Shook are positioned and staffed to provide the ongoing leadership the region has come to expect.
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