DALTON, Mass. — For over a decade, neighbors have called 27 Mountain View Terrace an eyesore and a safety risk, and now, after a year in court, work is being done to address the blighted condition. 

 

The single-family home was condemned by the town's Board of Health in October 2025 following little progress to address the code violations despite multiple months. 

 

The property was cited for several safety issues, including clutter blocking egresses, a collapsing roof and porch, mold throughout the house, especially in the basement where there is water damage, and the lack of water, electricity, and gas. 

 

Neighbors also attended Board of Health meetings to complain about the rats that have infested their homes coming from the "abandoned" property and the unkept grass in the back yard. According to court documents, there is evidence of pests. 

 

Kathryn Kohlenberger, who lives right next to the property, said she has been dealing with the decaying conditions for 12 years and had to put mouse boxes and cayenne pepper around her house to prevent mice from entering her property. 

 

On March 11, 2026, the Attorney General's Office approved the appointment of a receiver, TM Properties Inc., which has a four-phase plan to rehabilitate the home. The anticipated cost of the project is estimated at $160,714.00 inclusive of all fees.

 

According to court documents, the property has been vacant since 2004. It was appraised, in May 2026, at about $250,000 after rehabilitation and about $50,000 in its current condition. 

 

Since 2014, TM Properties Inc. has served as a receiver for the Western Division Housing Court, bringing multiple properties up to compliance with the State Sanitary Code.

 

The property management company is in the first phase: cleanout. This involves changing exterior locksets and deadbolts, removing exterior overgrowth, securing the property, and clearing out the building — which is expected to require three 30-yard dumpster loads.

 

When the contractors opened the windows neighbors directly abutting the property complained of a "musty" and "moldy" odor emanating from the house. 

 

The house had been left "untended to" since the condemnation order until last week, when the entire contents of the house were gutted and placed onto the lawn, leaving dirty mattresses and appliances all over the property, neighbor Craig Wilbur told iBerkshires on June 11. 

 

"Since the windows and doors have been permanently removed, there is a smell of mold. Clearly, I can't sit on my front porch without smelling it. I can't avoid seeing it, and it's creating a problem for my way of life and just my day-to-day living," he said. 

 

"I don't know what I'm breathing, if it's hazardous or not. If I can smell it, it may be something more." 

 

Wilbur has been in coordination with the Board of Health and Building Inspector Brian Duval about his concerns. In a correspondence with iBerkshires, Duval said he went to the property on June 16, and it appears the property is being cleaned up. 

 

Once phase one is complete, the contractor will move onto the construction exterior phase, which includes installing a new roof, 12 windows, four basement windows, new gutters, three new exterior doors, exterior paint, and a new front stairs and railing. 

 

Phases 3 and 4 is the interior construction of the project. Phase 3 includes the repairs or replacement of the plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and repairs to the electric system. 

 

Phase 4 completes the project with sheet rock replacement, as needed, repairs to the bathroom tub framing and surrounds, installation of 12 new cabinets and counters, replacement of the kitchen flooring, repairs to the broken trim and molding, new interior doors and hardware, as needed, refinishing flooring, painting throughout, repairs to the sheetrock work, and the insulation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.