A 97-year-old lakeside mansion known for its infamous previous owners was demolished by developers on Wednesday.
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Little by little, an excavator tore apart the walls of the ‘Bin Laden’ house, which was bought by Osama’s brother Khalil in 1980.
Khalil and his wife occupied the 17-acre property until September 12, 2001, when neighbors saw them being flown out.
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Neighbors described the family at the time as ‘nice and normal’.
The house, located on West Colonial Drive near Oakland, has gone through periods of abandonment and restoration since the tragic day, passing through several hands.
Ultimately, it rotted and was damaged by vandals in recent years. Efforts by community members to preserve it failed.
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“It’s a very sad day overall, especially something that could have been prevented,” said one woman, who did not want to be identified, as she watched the demolition. “It happens. It’s Florida. Everything here is prime real estate, especially this piece of land.”
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