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The Metrodome isn't the only notable real estate getting a makeover these days.

The house at 2014 Villard Ave. in St. Paul isn't quite as roomy as Mall America Field, of course. And it hasn't riveted the state's attention quite like the Vikings home. But it was infamous in its own way for a while after it blew up.

It was the house where a plumber accidentally punctured a gas line that had been inadvertently run through the sewer outlet in the yard. Homeowner Trista Meehan escaped serious injury, but lost everything in the Feb. 1, 2010 explosion and fire. The incident led to inspections all over the Twin Cities, for fear that such dangers might be lurking under sidewalks anywhere.

State officials and Xcel Energy said they were satisfied the problem is limited and that they're dealing with it.

 say the lot now belongs to a Plainview, Minn., couple, and it looks like they're going to build a new house there.

Here's the pile of dirt from an apparent basement excavation.

This time, of course, with the gas line well marked.

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Tim Nelson

Author

Burned down, now dug up in St. Paul's Highland Park

The Highland Park house that went BOOM!

Go Deeper.

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