Marblehead Dream Home Torn Down After Long Dispute
MARBLEHEAD (CBS) - A longstanding feud between neighbors in Marblehead ended Tuesday morning with the demolition of a million dollar home.
A judge ruled in December that Wayne Johnson's dream house must be torn down because it violates town zoning regulations. The legal dispute has been winding through the courts for 16 years.
The home on Bubier Road was torn down in a matter of minutes just after sunrise Tuesday.
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It wasn't the outcome he was hoping for, but Johnson is just relieved his legal problems are over.
"I'm happy to be able to get on with my life and not have to be dealing with this miscarriage of justice that has truly been a real burden for 20 years," Johnson told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Sunday. "It is sad, for sure, but there's more to life than a house."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
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Neighbors had complained about Johnson's house blocking their view of the water.
Johnson said he tried to work with his neighbors over the years to resolve the issue, but they wanted no part of it.
He said he even offered to cut off part of the house that obstructed their view.
"I've made many offers. If they were well-intended, they would have said, 'OK, we realize this was an honest mistake by the town,'" said Johnson.
Johnson said the town approved all of the renovations on his house before he made them.
He said he plans to rebuild on the property. His neighbors had no comment.
WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports
