Marsdale Avenue property is demolished
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Messenger photo by Kathleen Radcliff |
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An eyesore is removed from Marsdale Avenue in Franklin Township. The property was demolished as part of Franklin County’s nuisance abatement program. Another structure in the township is slated for demolition in coming months. |
Residents on Marsdale Avenue and Franklin Township officials watched a neighborhood eyesore tumble down on Oct. 1.
“This has been a two year work-in-progress,” Franklin Township trustee vice chair Don Cook said. “Squatters lived there previously.”
The long-abandoned residence was demolished under the Franklin County Township Nuisance Abatement Program.
The county invested $320,000 in federal funding to demolish 17 buildings this year in Mifflin, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton and Madison townships.
The Marsdale Avenue property was overrun with wild animals and plant life. It had a tree growing from a hole in the roof.
“The cat in there had babies about a week ago,” Cook said.
The felines had food, though. Neighbors said the house was infested with rodents.
This is the seventh house to come down in the county, said Omri Gross, compliance specialist for MORPC housing and community services.
Another property in the township, located on Dover Road, is anticipated to be demolished later this month.
Kathy Werkmeister, MORPC director of housing and community services, said costs for asbestos abatement and demolition is running between $7,000 and $15,000 per structure.
A house on Plainview Avenue was demolished last month in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Health and the township, Cook said.
Township officials said the Plainview Avenue residence was an alleged drug house.
“It was a disaster,” Township trustee chair Timothy Guyton said.
Gross said the remnants of the properties are sifted off-site for recycable materials.
One neighbor summed up the sentiments of her community as the house came down.
“It’s about time,” she said.