Neighbors take to streets to protest $3.87B SK hynix chip site in West Lafayette

Protest continues as SK hynix, Purdue Research Foundation make their case for chip packaging facility. Crucial vote on proposed rezoning coming May 5.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

Two dozen residents of University Farm, Arbor Chase and other West Lafayette neighborhoods marched Friday afternoon to the corner of Kalberer Road and Salisbury Street, greeted by honks from afternoon commuters as they protested the proposed site of a $3.87 billion, 430,000-square-foot SK hynix advanced chip packaging facility near the intersection.

Carrying signs that opposed heavy industry near their residential subdivisions, they continued their push to persuade at least five of the nine West Lafayette City Council members to agree that an industrial zoning doesn’t make sense on 121 acres north of Kalberer Road, between Yeager Road and Salisbury Street/County Road 50 West.

“The concept for today was to materialize to people that this is the land that would be a 24-hour-a-day operation, seven days a week,” Macarena Guerrero, a resident of University Farm neighborhood, said, pointing to empty acreage at the northwest corner.

This is a bird’s eye view of what SK hynix says its $3.87 billion facility will look like, looking northwest from the corner of Kalberer Road and Salisbury Street/County Road 50 West. (Image via SK hynix)

“I think it’s still abstract for our neighbors. But it’s right here,” Guerrero said. “This is really a grass-roots movement of neighbors trying their best with the limited time they have. I think that we are coming here with hope that our city council officials will take the APC recommendations seriously.”