Three storey block pierces neighbouring property with residents inside.
An empty three-story apartment building on Newbury Street in Lawrence collapsed Wednesday as it was being demolished, tilting onto an occupied apartment building next door.
Residents of the adjacent building, which had six units housing about 15 people, were evacuated and will not be allowed to return for at least a day pending an inspection, Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said. Damage to the building appeared to be minor.
Demolition of the condemned building resumed about 90 minutes after the collapse.
The building had been empty for a decade except for homeless people who occasionally moved in, residents of the neighborhood said.
The city had condemned the structure and ordered it demolished but the landlord resisted, forcing the city to seek a court order allowing the demolition.
