PLANT CITY Nearly two years after a fire blazed through the heart of historical downtown, land vacant on South Collins Street will go on the auction block.

The land south of the Whistle Stop Café and other commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural lands and buildings will be auctioned off by Higgenbotham Auctioneers International starting at 11 a.m. Feb. 10, at the Ramada Inn Plantation House at 2011 N. Wheeler St., near Interstate 4.

The land on Collins Street is drawing the most attention from potential buyers, auction manager John Haney said.

“It’s a great location,” Haney said. “Downtown, on Collins, which is one of the busiest streets.”

The Collins Street land includes two parcels, including one owned by David Hawthorne, who said he’s selling the property because the market changed. He had planned to redevelop the lot into a town house complex.

“I had an ambitious plan. In reality, the market for town houses changed. That was my vision and dream. I’m hoping somebody else has a vision and dream.”

Hawthorne and his wife, Vicki, owned an antiques and collectibles mall on the property before the fire. Hawthorne said he hopes it will be redeveloped in a manner close to his vision.

“It’s rare you get a spot in the historic district that’s bare. Something worthy should go there. If nobody buys the lot, I’ll get motivated and put something up.”

Nearly a block of buildings went up in smoke in the Feb. 21, 2005 fire. Angela Lockett, once an employee of the Hawthornes, was sentenced last March to two years of house arrest and 15 years of probation after pleading guilty to setting the fire following a spat with a former boyfriend who operated one of the businesses that burned. Hawthorne’s property and adjoining land remain vacant.

Besides the Collins Street land, two other properties owned by Hawthorne, a two story building at 102 S. Evers St. and a 3,000-square-foot building 106 N. Drane St. are going to be auctioned Feb. 10.

Haney is expecting more than 200 people to attend the auction, which will offer buildings and properties in Plant City, Mulberry, Lithia, Keysville and Thonotosassa. For information, call Higgenbotham Auctioneers at (800) 257-4161 or visit the company Web site at www.higgenbotham.com.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.