Adams Officials Seek Action on Decaying Harmony Street House
The town's owed more than $72,000 in taxes and interest since 2011 but the owners have died and the heirs don't want it.
Neighbors of the property located at 6 Harmony St. have expressed concerns surrounding the deteriorating and unsafe condition of the conventional single-family residence.
"This is a house that is sort of collapsing in on itself. It's probably in need of demolition," said Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo.
To do that, there are two steps that need to occur — the creation of the Board of Survey and the appropriation of funds, he said.
"We'd be moving an article to town meeting for an appropriation for slum and blight costs that demolition might occur," Caccamo said.
"So, that's an item that we'll be bringing forward, as requested by the board, for consideration when you sign the warrant.
The town does not own the property. It previously attempted to place a lien on the property for $16,167.08 in unpaid taxes accrued between 2011 and 2017.
At the time, the town pursued the matter in land court, but the effort stalled because of an incorrect filing, Selectwoman Kelly Rice said.
According to Caccamo, as of fiscal 2026, the delinquent taxes, including interest, are now $72,225.91 accrued between 2011 through 2026.
During the Selectmen's meeting last week, members agreed something needed to be done to "get the ball rolling" on addressing the building and its condition. The town is now working to reinitiate this process so it can be addressed.
Complicating the situation is that the three owners listed on the property are deceased, requiring the town to navigate land court proceedings, during which all potential heirs connected to the estate have to be identified, Rice said.
"This costs us a lot of money to do this one. The heirs, there's a ton of them, tons of them, and they have to notify everyone, especially if there's no will," she said.
"So, they have to just keep going down the line … and we finally got down to I think there's three heirs that are still heirs. And they did all sign off that they don't want it so, but let's hope they do it again."
Selectman Joseph Nowak shared a correspondence, dated 2019, from abutters urging the town to take action against the property's poor condition.
The small house is very close to the homes on each side. Neighbors say the home has become a serious health, safety, and fire hazard, outlining a long history of neglect and continued deterioration of the property.
They claim that the water was improperly shut off, causing the pipes to freeze and burst, flooding the basement and first floor with thousands of gallons of water. This has led to black mold growth, which is a health hazard. Additionally, there are major leaks in the roof which have weakened the structure -- there's now a very visible hole in the roof and the back of the building is crumbling.
Abutters say the building's garage door is jammed and has been left wide open, allowing rodents and wild animals — including raccoons, skunks, rats, and mice — to enter the property. They also described several outdoor eyesores, including overgrown grass, peeling paint, fallen trees, and an abandoned car.
Tags: blight,
