After costly face-lift, Lafayette businesses face flooding

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Some businesses in an Indiana city have added sandbags to stop rain from soaking their stores, apparently an unfortunate consequence of a multimillion-dollar street improvement project.

The economic development director in Lafayette says a meeting with engineers is planned to figure out why stores are flooding. The Journal & Courier says Lafayette has been delivering sandbags to Main Street businesses and paid for at least one cleanup.

The city and businesses spent more than $5 million on a two-year streetscape project. There are plaza-like corners, outdoor restaurant seating, new lights and public art.

Dave Kurtz says water has seeped into his store at least three times since August. He jokes that the tubes of sand should be decorated to look like candy canes for the Christmas season.

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Information from: Journal and Courier, http://www.jconline.com