Residents Say Blasting Destroying Homes

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- A homeowner in Rutherford County said blasting for new construction is damaging his home.

Video: Man Says Blasting Causes Cracks, Creaks In Home

The Blackman community is rapidly growing with dozens of new homes under construction, but some residents said they are concerned because all of the new construction is destroying their old homes.

Jerry Petrella said the steps leading up to his home have been separated from his family’s home and that some cracks are appearing around the house.

Other neighbors are also complaining about similar damage to their homes.

Petrella said his neighborhood used to be peaceful.

"The house shakes. Dishes rattle, glasses rattle in the cupboards," he said.

He said blasting from a nearby construction site has rocked his home for the past few months.

"It’s not a one-day thing. It’s every stinking day," he said.

He said that since the blasting started, he has discovered creaks and cracks that were not there before the construction. He said the damage is on the inside and outside of his home.

"It’s breaking it apart. It is tearing my home down," he said.

Neighbors said the blasting has gone on for years and that complaints have done nothing to remedy the situation.

Channel 4’s Cara Kumari said she was unable to reach anyone from Ole South Excavating for comment on this story.

Petrella said the company’s owner told him that he’s "blasting within what’s allowed by the law, and there’s nothing he can do about it."

Area residents said they have filed complaints with the state fire marshal’s office, who is trying to set up a meeting about the issue.

Petrella said all he wants is for the company to take responsibility and fix the damage.

"If one of my kids had broken a window on somebody else’s property, I’m still responsible," he said.

Lawmakers have made some alterations on the state’s blasting laws in the past few years. But a plan for companies to conduct pre-blasting surveys of surrounding homes within a half-mile of the blasting area failed in a House subcommittee earlier this session.

The Blackman community is also the location that a developer wants to build a Bible-based theme park. The park has been met with mixed reactions so far.