Final plans approved for 720 Northwestern in West Lafayette

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Construction can soon begin on the controversial 720 Northwestern project in West Lafayette.

The Executive Committee of the Area Plan Commission of Tippecanoe County approved final detailed plans Wednesday afternoon.

The APC and the West Lafayette Council approved the planned development this summer across from Mackey Arena. Plans call for 230 units, 490 bedrooms, almost 42,000 feet of retail space and a 405 space parking garage with three levels.

In Wednesday's committee meeting, planning staff said the developer hired a different architect to design the building. At first the drawings did not match the initial planned development agreement. But after some work, APC Executive Director Sallie Fahey is satisfied that it's substantially in compliance.

"The whole point of the (planned development) is that what was approved by city council is what you get," she said. "So that's why we are pretty meticulous with our final detailed plan reviews to make sure that happens."

Plans call for construction to begin this month. The building isn't expected to be complete until August 2014.