Downtown building collapses
By JOHN REED
KNOX - The roof fell in on a long-neglected storefront on Lake Street in downtown Knox, and the city likely will order the building demolished.
The address of the building was not available. It sits on the north side of Lake, adjacent to the vacant Theater, and across the alley from the recently-constructed Knox Community Center.
City Building Commissioner Dave Dare said that, in his view, the structure is unsafe. �I will order it be demolished unless the owner can prove there is some way the structure can be made safe and usable,� Dare said.
Frank Allen, former publisher of The Leader and owner of a variety of local properties, is one the apparent owners of the building.
Dare said that Frank Allen reportedly sold the building on land contract to Ken Allen. Ken Allen also is purchasing the Theater building from the Starke County Development Foundation.
One side of the Lake Street building had once been a jewelry store, City Clerk Ray Walton said. He and others could not recall what type of business had occupied the main part of the building.
City crews barricaded the sidewalk and alley. The east wall, next to the alley is bowed out. The rafters are resting on the interior floor. There is some restaurant equipment stored inside, but the building was apparently not used as a restaurant.
Ken Allen reportedly has been buying the Theater building with the idea of reopening it. Foundation officials for the last three years have been tight-lipped about that project and the question of ownership has been a couple of times.
The Lake Street building may have been part of a joint project with the theater.
Dare said that Frank Allen was aware of the building�s collapse, but neither Allen had made contact with the city as of Monday.
Neither could be reached for comment.
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