Applicant outlines coffee shop and event-space plan for La Porte’s old firehouse; commissioners move to approve application

Dudley told the La Porte City Commission he wants to repurpose the city’s old firehouse into a mixed-use building with upper-floor business suites and a coffee shop downstairs, and to rent portions of the building for private events. "My intention is to put a coffee shop downstairs where we have a coffee bar and baked goods," Dudley said, adding that the space has been built out and that most of the second-floor suites are already rented to a mix of small businesses.

The applicant described leasing the interior for private celebrations and said he has retained outside caterers for some events. He emphasized the project’s ties to the community, noting that relatives "worked here" and framing the reuse as a way to foster local economic activity in the riverfront district.

Dudley also discussed alcohol and catering rules tied to his application. He said local approval would be required before the state processes any related license application and that the state review typically takes "about 90 to 120 days." He told the commission the catering-license fee he referenced is roughly $100 per year. Dudley warned that certain activities — serving alcohol himself or cleaning after service, for example — are restricted until the appropriate license is granted and that use of an outside caterer with the right license is one way to host events while the state process proceeds.

Commissioners put a motion on the table to approve the applicant’s request; another commissioner seconded the motion and the meeting moved to further discussion and then to old business. The transcript records the motion and a second but does not include a recorded vote or tally, and no final outcome is stated in the available record.

Why it matters: The proposed reuse would activate a historic building in La Porte’s riverfront district, add a ground-floor retail/food option and formalize short-term event rentals that could increase foot traffic for nearby businesses. The licensing timeline and restrictions on alcohol service mean the applicant’s ability to host events with alcohol depends on a multi-step process involving local approval and subsequent state review.

What remains unclear: The transcript does not record a formal vote or the motion’s result, and it does not specify the precise license type being requested (applicant described building use and referenced a $100 catering fee but said he was not applying for a separate catering permit for an outside caterer). The transcript likewise does not specify conditions, special-use permit requirements, or any required inspections.

The commission’s next steps were not recorded in the transcript; the motion to approve had been seconded when the meeting proceeded to further discussion and then old business.