The Knox Redevelopment Commission has chosen an option for selling 8 South Main Street. Mayor Dennis Estok told board members this month that Indiana Code allows redevelopment commissions to sell a property to an abutting landowner, as long as it’s worth less than $15,000.
“We’ve got to put it in the paper and advertise it that way and then send them direct letters,” he explained, “and if neither one of them would want it, then we’ll go back to the drawing board.”
The property has to be appraised, but the city can have one of its employees do that, under Indiana Code. The most recent assessment was for $9,000. In the end, the redevelopment commission agreed to offer 8 South Main to the abutting landowners for $6,000.
“If I wasn’t in my position right now and if you offered that building to me for $6,000, I would buy it,” Estok said. “Put me a pretzel store in. Pretzel, ice cream – oh, yeah.”
He noted that a neighboring business has been looking to expand.
