Two of Plant City’s most recognizable properties now have new owners.
Stine Properties III LLC purchased in February Smithfield Foods’ Plant City plant, 4611 Lykes Road, for $337,500. And last month, City Adventures LLC closed on the Knotts Hardware building, 314 S. Collins St., for $210,000.
Both Stine Properties and City Adventures are Plant City-based entities.
Smithfield Foods’ 170-squaree-foot factory was one of Plant City’s largest employers before it closed in September 2009. At that time, it employed 760. The closure was part of a company-wide downsizing that eliminated 1,800 jobs.
According to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser records, the taxable value of the factory is $1,792,434.
City Adventures officer John Helton, said his company has purchased several buildings in Plant City’s Historic Downtown District. Currently, the company is working to renovate the Knotts building to prepare it for a new use.
“We are redoing the hardwood floors and getting everything fixed up,” Helton said. “Once it’s fixed up, it should be a nice, beautiful location.”
Helton declined to say what type of business would be occupying the Knotts building.
