A Whiteville house went under the excavator Monday and Tuesday as part of the city’s flood hazard mitigation buyout program.
The property at 705 S. Franklin Street was heavily damaged during Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, but was still occupied until this year. The home was built in 1942, according to county land records. Bayview Financial Property Trust of Coral Gables, Fla., owns the property.
The property was the center of controversy during the 2016 elections, when as multiple voters listed the property as their home. No complaint was filed with the Board of Elections, and the case was never investigated.
City Manager Darren Currie said the home will be replaced with a home that will be elevated above flood level.
The project is being paid for through a state hazard mitigation grant administered by the city.
