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KINGSTON — The stink and infestation are gone — the eyesore removed.
Helen Sterner’s former home at 549 North Gates Ave. was demolished Wednesday by a crew from Brdaric Construction Co., bringing relief to a quiet neighborhood that has been forced to cope with the effects of the aftermath of a fire allegedly started last fall by the now-jailed co-owner of the property.
“It’s a sad day,” said neighbor George Kochis, who said he took his concerns to the borough council on more than one occasion. “They were great neighbors for years. Our kids used to swim in their pool.”
Paul Keating, Kingston’s administrator, said the town hired Brdaric to demolish the home after numerous notifications sent to the Sterners went unanswered. Helen Sterner is being held in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility awaiting adjudication of her alleged role in the Oct. 20, 2015 fire. Her estranged husband wants nothing to do with the property, neighbors said.
According to court records, Helen Sterner is facing multiple felony charges, including three counts of arson and one count each of reckless burning and criminal mischief. Sterner also faces a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals, stemming from the death of her dog in the fire. A trial date has not been set.
Next-door neighbor Carol Chmiel told the Times Leader in June that when she visited Sterner in jail, her friend of many years didn’t give any reason why she allegedly set her own house on fire with gasoline purchased from a local gas station.
Keating said the property was a mess, with debris at the rear of the property, an in-ground swimming pool left unattended and a yard full of overgrown grass and weeds. Keating said the neighbors also were concerned about vermin inhabiting the property.
Neighbors said they suspected homeless people were living in a tent at the rear of the property, but Keating said he had not heard about that.
“The public has been vigilant about getting the property cleaned up,” Keating said. “They wanted it cleaned up and we decided it was time.”
Keating said he wasn’t sure what will become of the property once it is cleared. He said there are “a substantial amount of liens” filed against the Sterners and the estate.
“We won’t be in a prioritized position to recover our monies,” Keating said. “We decided this was the right thing to do for safety and preservation of the neighborhood.”
Keating said it will be a while before the property is cleared. He said the Internal Revenue Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and Luzerne County all have liens against the property.
“It’s unlikely we will recoup our money on it,” Keating said.
Meanwhile, Kochis was content to sit in his chair and watch the demolition proceed.
“Someday it will be a nice lot for somebody,” he said.
Across the street, Dan Barnes and Lorraine Supchak were talking as they watched the house come down.
“It was a health hazard and an eyesore,” Barnes said.
Supchak, who has her home for sale, said “it’s about time” that the property was cleaned up.
“I thought it might never happen,” she said. “Everybody in the neighborhood is thrilled. The smell has been awful, especially when it would rain.”
Supchak said a lot of young children live in the neighborhood and residents were concerned for their safety.
“Thank God it’s finally down,” she said.
