Mr. Kevin Warren of LELC was interviewed for the purposes of this study. The more than 640 acres that encompass Coffee Creek Center will include a mix of residential, commercial and retail areas, together with more than 200 acres of prairie, woodland, wetland and stream restoration along the Coffee Creek corridor and throughout the site. Bordered on the south by the Indiana Toll Road, on the west by Indiana Route 49, Coffee Creek's land use plan is guided by a desire to encourage diversity and promote smart growth, flexibility and strong ties to the existing community of Chesterton. LELC's plans call for 1,200 residences and more than one million square feet of commercial space. The village center will include specialty retail shops, a grocery store, caf and children's store.
Priority is placed upon the proper integration of healthy ecosystems with urban life.
Preserved natural areas are designed to serve as focal points of the community. The 150-acre Coffee Creek riparian corridor will be restored and set aside as a park. Bike and walking trails will wind their way through preserved stands of trees and rehabilitated wetlands. Restoration efforts are currently being undertaken in flood plains, meadows and remnant prairie areas. Tree Philosophy Tree preservation efforts are anticipated to be extensive.