The buildings at 2 and 4 N. Main St. in Knox will soon be but a memory as the Knox City Council will soon be taking bids for their demolition. Engineering firm Territorial Engineering has put together a bid package for their destruction and the Knox City Council Tuesday night approved the bid letting with a pre-bid meeting to be held on June 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Knox City Hall. Bids will be accepted up to June 26 at 9:30 a.m.
To ensure that the historical buildings are not forgotten, however, the Starke County Economic Development Foundation recently received final approval from all the agencies required to sign off on a book to be composed with the history and pictures of the two buildings. A copy of the book was presented to the council and another will go to the Starke County Museum.
The SCEDF, in accordance with a grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, has committed itself to paying all local costs required of the city of Knox to demolish the buildings.
The SCEDF will cover the estimated cost of $17,760 for the demolition, as well as the cost to reinstall a cap over the south wall of the building immediately north of 4 N. Main St., and the foundation will convey by Corporate Warranty Deed the real estate owned by the SCEDF at 2 and 4 N. Main St. after the demolition has been completed.
Because the SCEDF is going through the city for the grant, the city will be required to handle the payment of the $17,760 match, but the SCEDF will ultimately be providing those funds. Van Janovic with Territorial Engineering has prepared the specifications and bid documents for the demolition.
