BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
The remaining structure on the former Badcock Furniture building in downtown Starke was demolished Monday.
City commissioners approved the move last August.
The primary retail building was demolished in 2016 to create additional public parking downtown. The city acquired the property several years earlier in a development agreement with Badcock, which needed a utility extension when the business moved south of town. (The business has since closed.)
The remaining building was left and considered for multiple uses including public restrooms, an employee gym and record storage.
After inspection, Starke Chief Administrative Officer Jimmy Crosby (then operations director), said the building wasn’t worth the cost of refurbishment. He told the commission even to serve as a warehouse would require approximately $350,000. Instead of that investment, staff recommended demolishing the structure to make way for additional parking.
The commission agreed, and so the parking lot on the property will be properly finished to better reflect the improved streetscape under the railroad overpass.
