Wrong house demolished in Michigan

[redheadbaker]

PONTIAC, Mich. (WXYZ) - One man's ingenious plan to save his house from the wrecking ball caused crews to take down the wrong home in Pontiac on Thursday.

The man who owned the house that was slated for demolition is accused of changing the address numbers with the house next door.
Mike--the man who owns the house that wasn't supposed to be torn down-- tells 7 Action News he was planning on renting it out on October 1 and he's wondering if the city of Pontiac owes him a new house.

But many in the neighborhood are happy the wrong house was torn down. They say it was an eyesore with broken windows. They also said squatters were living in the home.

"When I heard they tore down the house on accident I wanted to give them a twelve pack of beer," said neighbor Fred Sargent. "I was that happy."

"If anybody was going to rent that out, it had to be a crackhead," Sargent said.

Detectives with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office are now investigating the alleged swapping of address numbers that led to the wrong house being torn down.

Regardless, the man's plan didn't work for long. Crews returned late Thursday to actually tear down the right one.

[orangeblossom]

This whole story is crazy. Did the address switcher think the city wouldn't eventually find out they tore down the wrong house, and come back for his? Also, could he be charged with anything, since essentially he was trespassing on the other man's property.

I would be livid if I were the owner, regardless of the state of the house. It wasn't supposed to be torn down.

[AAM2012]

Of course the guy had a renter lined up for the property, with the busted windows and all. I'm guessing the guy next door can sue the other guy (who changed the numbers) but what money would he have? I'm sure the city will end up paying something for their error.