LEOMINSTER — The brick home at 208 Pleasant Street, severely damaged during the September 11, 2023 flood, is expected to be demolished this week, according to city officials. On Tuesday, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said demolition could begin as early as Wednesday.
The home, formerly owned by Arthur and Joanne Obin, became a widely recognized symbol of the storm’s impact after floodwaters swept away the land surrounding it, leaving the structure perched above a 20-foot drop with no accessible front yard. The Obins evacuated during the flood, narrowly avoiding collapse of the walkway they had just stood on.
Heavy rains that day dumped nearly 10 inches of water across northern Worcester County, overwhelming infrastructure, damaging roads and foundations, and prompting water rescues in several neighborhoods.
In March 2024, the City of Leominster purchased the damaged home from the Obin family for $350,000 as part of a “friendly” eminent domain agreement. According to their son, Andre Obin, the property had been worth approximately $450,000 before the flood. The family has since relocated to West Boylston.
Marking the one-year anniversary of the disaster, Andre reflected on the toll it took on his parents.
“It took so much out of my parents that they’ll never be 100% back, cognitively, from it, I don’t think,” he said. “But they’re settled and safe and everybody’s healthy. So we can’t complain.”
City officials plan to demolish the home and stabilize the surrounding area as part of ongoing flood recovery efforts. Mazzarella said the property will eventually be converted into an open brook after drainage improvements are completed.
The 2023 flood caused an estimated $30 to $35 million in damage to Leominster’s infrastructure.
