About the analysis
The following insights come from Dr. Charles A. Bouman, a Purdue professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and in Biomedical Engineering. He has lived in West Lafayette since 1995. That long view, combined with deep technical expertise, makes his perspective uniquely valuable. Dr. Bouman prepared this work for the rezoning decision on May 5, 2025. The vote has happened, but his analysis is still highly relevant.
Why this matters now
This was the only impact analysis anyone prepared that compared sites for SK hynix. It did not get the attention it deserved at the time. PRF and the City did not publish their own site suitability review. We are putting Dr. Bouman’s work back on the table so the community and decision makers can consider a better path.
What Dr. Bouman analyzed
Title: Alternative Site Analysis for the West Lafayette SK hynix Packaging Plant
Date: April 23, 2025
He compared two locations:
Kalberer and Salisbury: the current neighborhood site
Discovery Park District: the campus innovation district site originally prepared for SkyWater
Key findings at a glance
- Discovery Park District fits the project better across every major factor: environmental sensitivity, road and utility capacity, land use compatibility, community impact, and long term operations.
- Discovery Park District was already “purpose built” for a similar chip facility. It is near US 52 and US 231, has compatible neighbors such as Rolls-Royce and Saab, and aligns with Purdue’s innovation district.
- Neighborhood risk and friction fall sharply at the Discovery Park site. There are no immediate residential subdivisions at the fence line, so safety buffers and light or noise impacts are far easier to manage.
- Housing pressure is real. Converting about 121 acres of R1 land at Kalberer to I3 removes future housing capacity while adding 1,000 jobs, which can worsen the shortage identified in city planning documents.
- Logistics are cleaner at Discovery Park. Highways and planned utilities are already in place. Oversize deliveries, routine trucking, and any future expansion are simpler and safer.
Community trust improves if the project moves. A location that respects long standing neighborhoods lowers conflict and keeps momentum for jobs and research partnerships.
What this means for West Lafayette
The city can still seek the best location. The rezoning vote does not prevent leaders from working with Purdue and SK hynix on a more suitable site.
Moving to Discovery Park District preserves neighborhood integrity, supports faster and safer buildout, and strengthens the Purdue partnership that SK hynix says it wants.
What we are asking for
- Publicly revisit site selection with Discovery Park District at the top of the list.
- Publish the city or PRF site suitability criteria that should have been used. If no criteria exist, adopt them now and apply them consistently.
- Commit to a transparent schedule for next steps, including a public work session to review Dr. Bouman’s analysis and any new technical memos.
Why lift this up now
The community never received a full, public comparison of sites. Dr. Bouman provides exactly that. His conclusion is clear: Discovery Park District is the better fit for SK hynix and for West Lafayette.
What You Can Do Today
- Share this update with neighbors, colleagues, and local groups.
- Add your voice: comment on this petition and email city leaders that you support a Discovery Park District solution — one that protects neighborhoods and keeps jobs local. Email: eeaster@westlafayette.in.gov, CityCouncil@westlafayette.in.gov
- Read and share the full analysis: Dr. Bouman’s Alternative Site Analysis for the West Lafayette SK hynix Packaging Plant is now available on Medium. https://medium.com/@brandi.li/the-lone-study-revisiting-dr-78d1dc46b36e
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