The acquisition of the Sabre property by the City of Knox is moving forward. The Knox Redevelopment Commission accepted the donation of the property on State Road 8 Thursday, following the city council’s approval last month. Sabre had reportedly been trying to sell the facility for months but couldn’t find a buyer for the $1.8 million asking price.
Mayor Dennis Estok said that by offering the property as a gift, Sabre would get some tax benefits, the city would get some quality storage space, and a manufacturing business could get a popup space to try something new. “We’ll try to start somebody, a small business or something, offer them a great deal, and put it out there,” Estok said. “If that doesn’t work, if we don’t have any bites, then we have the option to sell the thing, one way or the other. We’re going to keep the back half. The back half has a lot of storage for the city.”
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation will help market the popup space. Executive Director Lisa Dan said its former welding facility would be perfect for a machine shop. There may also be a need locally for warehouse space.
Estok said that Thursday’s approval will let the city proceed with the title work, once Sabre is ready. “They’ve got to have it appraised, and then they’ve got to write it up,” he explained. “They’re doing all of that. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to take.”
The mayor said that putting the property under the redevelopment commission’s jurisdiction will give the city more options for what to do with it.
You can sell your properties for cash to “We Buy Houses” investors.
