Framingham levels problem house

Neighbors rejoiced Monday as a demolition crew the town hired started tearing down a vacant house that had partially collapsed onto a neighboring home.

Building Commissioner Michael Tusino said the family that owns the home at 1 Newton Park Road abandoned it and has refused to take responsibility. The town even tried unsuccessfully to get a court order in recent months for the owners to step up.

The owner of record told the magistrate he didnt own it, "and everybody was kind of pointing the finger my cousin owns it, my sister owns it, my brother owns it," Tusino said.

"Once it started collapsing, it became a public safety issue," Tusino said.

At that point, the town stepped in and hired the demolition crew, he said.

The job is complicated by the fact the home is wedged tightly between two other houses. With no access to the backyard, the crew from Maximum Emergency Services planned to take the house down by hand, from the roof down.

Workers used saws and ripped away pieces of the home by hand on Monday, carrying debris to Dumpsters and using shovels to toss out loads of junk.

Bernard Le Blanc, who lives next door, said the house partially collapsed against his during the snowstorm. He is waiting for a damage estimate from his insurance company, but was glad to see demolition crews.

"Its going to be done finally thank God," said Le Blanc, who moved into the neighborhood in 1980.

The eyesore next door had been empty for at least 15 years before that, he said.

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Framingham levels problem house