HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Residents made their voices heard Tuesday night, speaking in favor of saving the Blue Streak building in downtown Hopkinsville which is being threatened with demolition if it is determined to not be structurally sound.

Word of mouth quickly spread throughout the community about the city’s potential plans to demolish the building leading up to the Sept. 16 Hopkinsville City Council meeting. Built in 1912, the former Blue Streak Printer building has stood alone and vacant on its side of East Ninth Street since the nearby Pheonix Building and surrounding lots have been demolished.

When it was first constructed, the building first was The Rex Theater, eventually turning into The Kentucky theater before it closed in 1956. The company that most recently occupied it was Blue Streak Printers owned by Alfred “Bobo” Cravens for over 50 years.

Immediate pushback from residents for demolition

“I would recommend looking creatively into other options and take a constructive step towards the future that includes the past,” said resident Grace Abernathy to the council. She spoke up in favor of preservation along with two others at the meeting, telling councilmembers that eliminating this building would continue to strip away at the city’s identity and character.

Kate Russell, owner of Hopkinsville Brewing Company in downtown Hopkinsville, had reached out directly to the council and the mayor with concerns as soon as she heard the news about the demolition. She shared her stance during the meeting as well.

“Just about any structure can be saved if given a plan, and in some cases a lot of money. Trust me, I know this one personally,” said Russell. “We already lost the Phoenix and the Holland Opera House, and I believe losing another historic building could derail the momentum we are building in downtown’s revitalization efforts.”

Tammie Van Buren echoed this sentiment, who has previously been outspoken at Christian County Fiscal Court meetings regarding the planned demolition of the historic Weber Building. She told the council that her nonprofit Hopkinsville Historic Community, would do their part in supporting fundraising efforts if needed to save the building.

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Mayor’s plan for the Blue Streak Building, next steps and cost

After listening to statements, Mayor J.R. Knight said demolition plans are not set in stone, and next steps fully depend on what Code Enforcement finds during an inspection of the property, and the structural integrity is determined. “If he says it’s a tear down, then we are going to have to step back and look at it as a tear down…tearing it down is going to cost money too that’s going to be another $100,000 or so,” said Knight.

He shared that the city invested about $500,000 in acquiring the building, and $1 million total between Blue Streak and the demolitions of the surrounding properties. The mayor said the city is open to welcoming an outside investor, similar to what happened with the L&N Train Depot, but it is not guaranteed to happen again.

“It is a beautiful building,” said Mayor Knight in response to public comments. “I didn’t want to see the Pheonix building torn down and I had many memories in there when it was Cassidy’s Kiddie Corner and I remember the barber shop that was right there…but when the building is too far gone, it is too far gone for taxpayer money.”

He continued to say that he has a clear vision for that corner of Main Street and East Ninth that includes bringing back more businesses and second story apartments. He said they have no plans of turning the lot into a greenspace or parking lot of a demolition is pursued.

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