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Before razing, house helps with training

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2009

PLANT CITY - A house in a historic district determined by the city building department to be unsafe for habitation and approved for demolition was taken down earlier this month and transformed into a vacant lot.

The two-story frame house at 104 Walker St., circa 1930, sat on less than a half acre, and was bought for $50,000 by Lynn Brewer, who has no specific plans for the land. Her acquisition of the property was directly related to Plant City Entertainment's purchase of the old C&S Used Furniture and Auction House, 101 N. Thomas St.

The old rental home and the auction house share a property line and were owned by Drane Street Properties Inc.

The company wanted to sell both properties at the same time. Since Plant City Entertainment had no use or interest in the old home, Brewer, whose husband Hal is board president of the community theater, bought it.

"It was an all or nothing deal from the former owner," said Hal Brewer, who is a retired physician.

The board of directors of Plant City Entertainment voted to buy the former auction house for $135,000 and renovate it for a theater.

The house, used as a rental property for years, was knocked down and removed from the property by Wetherington Tractor Co. of Plant City. Hal Brewer said the property would remain vacant for the foreseeable future.

"We don't have any plans for the lot," Brewer said. "We have time to worry about that later."

Plant City Fire Rescue used the building prior to its demolition to practice entering smoke-filled buildings with self-contained breathing equipment, infrared and hot spot detection devices. The department used an artificial smoke generator for the training exercises.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 731-8161.

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