An abandoned Mount Vernon house, which neighbors described as a crackhouse, was demolished Monday.

The house at 207 S. Fifth Ave. was reduced to rubble within hours. "It's about time they tore that house down," said resident Kizzy Logan. "It made the block look very, very bad."

Not all residents were pleased with the demolition. "It's not going to make a difference until you put some inhabitants in there," said Edwardo Archinti.

The developer who owns the property tore down the house, meaning Mount Vernon taxpayers won't have to pay for the demolition job. He plans to turn the property into a mixed-use development.

The Mount Vernon City Council took issue with the handling of the demolition of another abandoned house months earlier and later subpoenaed members of Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas' administration. 

The city didn't play a direct role in the recent demolition.