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Council approves purchase of 17 dilapidated properties to expedite demolition
Summary
The council authorized purchase of 17 properties from the Knox County trustee at $823 each to speed demolition of unsafe buildings; staff said demolition will be bid in early 2025 and may be eligible for IDHA Strong Communities grant reimbursement.
Staff recommended and the council approved a resolution authorizing acquisition of 17 properties from the Knox County trustee for $823 apiece so the city can expedite demolition of unsafe buildings and return parcels to productive use. The list included addresses such as 213 Pine, 286 Fulton, 61 North Elm and others; staff described many buildings as dilapidated and unsafe and said this approach is less expensive than pursuing court action.
City staff said demolition work would be bid in 2025 and that demolition costs would be eligible for reimbursement through the IDHA Strong Communities grant awarded to the city in 2023. Staff estimated bidding early next year and a 90–120 day timeframe for demolition once contracts are let; staff did not anticipate making these lots available in the spring 2025 sale but possibly in the spring 2026 auction.
