Community speakers praise new mural, raise long-standing code and signage concerns

Several residents and business owners used the public-comment period at the Aug. 18 La Porte Common Council meeting to announce a completed mural and ribbon-cutting and to raise concerns about local signage and building conditions.

Charity (no last name given), speaking as a Hot Spot Cafe representative, said the mural was completed as of 9 p.m. the previous night and invited the council and the public to a ribbon-cutting at noon Friday at The Hot Spot. She described a naming contest for the mural and a contest for the mural's frog figure; prizes include a signed, framed print, $100 in local-business gift certificates and a one-year Lebesnack Center membership. "We have light finger food, so come on, check it out. Take your picture by the mural, and, just have fun," she said.

Resident Dean White of 3066 North Highway 35 asked the city to address a state-highway sign on the 700 block of Lincoln Way that he said has been in place and unattended for more than three months. He told council members he had previously raised the issue and wanted the city to pursue removal or repair.

Resident Paul Skiat of 3196 North Bridal Court referenced the "Atrium" (39 North) project on the agenda and asked whether funds or investments similar to prior projects would be applied there. Economic development staff later told the council that discussions about Atrium are early and that detailed conversations about potential investments have not yet occurred.

Another resident who said he recently purchased 508 Maple Street described the property as a two-story brick, two-flat built in 1892 with a brick carriage house behind it. He said the raised concrete curb and embankment associated with the property are severely deteriorated and asked whether the city could remove the concrete in the public easement; he also said a pile of garbage had been present on the property for more than a month while the building remained vacant and that a previous owner had at one time had the property condemned. He identified the prior owner as Chris Holdings and said he planned to invest roughly $300,000 in rehabilitation.

Council and staff responded to the speakers: Economic development director Bert Cook said the Atrium housing conversations are only in the early steps of a multi-stage process, and city staff acknowledged the signage, code enforcement and property-maintenance concerns would be followed up by the appropriate departments.