The City of Knox should be able to successfully tear down 10 houses with funds from a blight elimination grant. So far four houses have been removed with funds from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, and another four are under contract for demolition. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston says the city should know any day whether two more houses are accepted into the program. He adds the city has received a reimbursement of $20,600 from the state through the program.
All 10 houses have been acquired by the city from willing sellers as part of the program. In addition, the Knox Street Department is demolishing a blighted house at 108 Allen Drive that was acquired by the city. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the board of works on Wednesday they were almost finished. Mayor Dennis Estok hopes to attract a developer to build a house on the property and get it back onto the tax rolls. If not he says adjacent property owners have indicates an interest in purchasing the parcel.
