ExxonMobil plans to demolish another home in the Northwoods neighborhood of Mayflower, where an Exxon pipeline ruptured on March 29, spilling thousands of gallons of tar sands crude that polluted the neighborhood, surrounding wetlands and a cove of Lake Conway. The home at 44 N. Starlite had never been cleared for re-entry by the Mayflower Unified Command, a collection of local, state and federal officials and Exxon, and is scheduled to be demolished late this morning, Exxon spokesman Aaron Stryk said.
“This home was determined by Unified Command to have oil remaining beneath its foundation. Demolition and excavation of the soil under the home’s foundation is an efficient and effective way to ensure that any remaining oil has been removed,” Stryk said in an email.
This follows the Oct. 7 demolition of two other homes in the neighborhood, 32 and 36 N. Starlite, both of which were also determined to have oil beneath their foundations.
According to the Faulkner County Assessor’s Office, the home at 44 N. Starlite was purchased in 2006 by Greg Doster for $165,000. Records show Exxon purchased the house on Oct. 25 for $185,000.
Exxon has purchased 20 homes in Northwoods to date, according to the Assessor’s Office. That’s about one third of the subdivision.
Sam Eifling wrote about the dismal prospects for Northwoods real estate in early October for the Times.