Rowan Street Eyesore Demolished

The city's year-long effort to remove an abandoned, dangerous house at 30 Rowan St., ended Friday when the owner tore down the building.

"You have no idea how good this feels," said Rodney Stevenson, who grew up next door and was home a year ago in a storm when wind blew a piece of roof off 30 Rowan St. onto his nephew and niece's swing set next door.

The house was not only dangerous because pieces of it could blow off in the wind. Its doors had rotted off, its roof had rotted off, and the interior walls and floors were collapsing. Homeless people had lived there, and the city considered it one if its top blight problems.

"It seems like it took forever," said Danbury Building Official Leo Null, who saw the property through the demolition process at Danbury Superior Court. "It's down. We're pretty happy."

The property owner, Eugene Wendel, owes the city about $155,000 in utility costs, property taxes, interest on past debt and late fees. The city and Wendel are talking about that bill now.

The city has no plans in hand for any future development on the site.

"It's a pretty big lot, now that the house is gone. You can see it," Null said. "This will help that whole neighborhood."