Mass. town can't unload house near landfill

[June 16, 2010]  NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) -- A Massachusetts town has lowered the price of a home it's trying to sell because there's barely been a sniff of interest.

The four-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot home on 2.4 acres of land is right next to Northampton's landfill. When potential buyers find out about it, they back away.

Northampton's Board of Public Works bought the home as part of a legal settlement with the previous owners, who frequently complained about the landfill's odor.

The home went on the market about a year ago for nearly $479,000. When it didn't sell, the price was lowered to $375,000. Board Chairman Terry Culhane said the price was slashed again to $290,000 last week.

Culhane tells The Republican of Springfield he'd be surprised if someone doesn't bite now.

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Information from: The Springfield Republican, http://www.masslive.com/news/

[Associated Press]

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