Demolition Begins at 368 Lyceum Ave.

A Roxborough property owner began demolition on a Lyceum Avenue home Wednesday.

Despite petitions and pleas from residents, Andrew Thomas exercised his property rights and legally acquired city permits to take a wrecking ball to 368 Lyceum Ave. The owner plans to build three homes.

Neighbors learned of the home's fate in late October and attempted to preserve it from destruction, just as they did with the historical Bunting House at 5901 Ridge Ave. Unlike with that home, neighbors never reached an agreement with Thomas, who is also building homes at Monastery Avenue.

Workers cut down trees Oct. 25, causing rumors to swirl that the home would fall Oct. 29. Hurricane Sandy delayed that action—but not for long.

After the storm, crews installed a demolition fence and appliances were removed from the large Gothic-style home.

The wrecking ball began at the property's backdoor early Wednesday, and worked about half-way through the building until 3 p.m., when the snow and rain began to pick up in Roxborough.

Thomas has never returned a request for comment.

However, at the Nov. 1 Central Roxborough Civic Association, resident Don Simon shared the plans at the site.

• Three single-family homes—one set of twins and one separate building
• A shared driveway between the twin and other home
• Six parking rear spaces, two a piece

Cick here to read that report.

Disclosure: The editor lives in a neighboring property to the one in the article.