The City of Knox is preparing to bid the demolition of four blighted houses. Mayor Dennis Estok says bid packets will be ready the first week of March with a goal of having the houses down in April.
Funds for the demolition are part of a blight elimination grant the city received. Estok hopes to take down eight houses and close out the grant by the end of the year.
The Knox Board of Works Wednesday morning agreed to proceed with the collapse of a house in the 400 block of Lewis Street previously identified as part of the program. The front wall of the structure had fallen down, and the recent high winds blew out the back wall. Estok told the board of works the structure needs to come down to alleviate liability and safety concerns. The city will cover the cost of tearing the structure down with money from the economic development income tax fund.
