'They decide to move forward with their project anyway': Famous architect tries to strongarm neighbors' project, neighbor calls multiple boards to report him

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 12, 2024 3:00 PM EST

While you're choosing your home, maybe you should consider the nature around you. That seems like pretty obvious advice, no? Well, if you're wealthy, anything is possible. For the right price, you can have your dream house with everything you desire, even if it's ridiculously inconvenient to make that happen. 

This person had a wealthy neighbor who felt that way. This guy had a humongous budget of $12 million to spend on his property renovation. That's a staggering amount of money for most people. Just think of the possibilities! You could install a moat-style swimming pool around your whole property with that money. You could build yourself a tiny amusement park in your backyard. Or you could do something more conventional and just build a fire pit and a hot tub. Basically, I'm saying this person didn't have enough imagination about how to spend their vast wealth (for some reason, rich people never seem to be very creative about their spending habits). Instead, they're content to make nature bend to their will. 

Read all about this big project that was doomed from the start. Then, check out another story about neighbors: these folks can't agree on how to get rid of the snow during their very snowy winter seasons. 

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  • 01
    'Every step of the project he either stands out at the end of the drive taking pictures or he's flying his drone over the lot'
    via Caleb Woods on Unsplash
  • 02
    Neighbor tries to flex, gets the shaft instead MOC This might be long but worth the read, I think. Spec home build with a $12M budget and a 16 month schedule. Next door neighbor immediately qualifies as a complete d-head. Knows everybody including the principals of the company I work for. At the very beginning of the
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 03
    work he asks for a row of redwood trees to be planted as screening between the properties. Principals grant his request as a good neighbor gesture. $31k.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 04
    Every step of the project he either stands out at the end of the drive taking pictures or he's flying his drone over the lot. He starts asking questions about whether or not work in progress is covered under the permit. He confides that he has obtained a copy of the permit and a set of plans. One day he asks us for a meeting to discuss the redwood trees, yes those trees. He comes
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 05
    over at the appointed time and introduces his wife's landscape architect. Famous guy apparently and he tries pulling some muscle moves by trying to convince us that the redwood trees are stealing their water. They also don't fit his vision for the project they are considering which will be a total side and backyard makeover with walkways, stone walls, fountains etc. He wants mature oak trees instead. Cut
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 06
    down and remove the redwoods at our expense and plant new oak trees, also at our expense because, you know, screening. We decline which sends famous architect guy and the wife into a rage. They decide to move forward with their project anyway and the major earth moving, concrete forming, irrigation etc are all getting placed. Mr. Drone
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 07
    Guy continues to make efforts to get the oak trees swapped in under threats that maybe some of the work we're doing isn't covered under the permit. Seems he also acted as the GC for his own remodel so he must really know what he's talking about. He sends emails, registered letters from his lawyer, all in an effort to get us to swap out the trees.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 08
    Finally we are within sight of completing our project and from the second floor we can see that they have really transformed their whole yard into little parklets with mature plantings and walkways and all the other stuff. It's impressive.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 09
    So I call the town for a courtesy inspection prior to final and the next day the inspector, an old friend whose father is also an old friend, stops by to tour the property for any red flags. I save the best for last and we make it upstairs and make it to the best possible viewing point of the neighbors magnificent landscape project and my inspector friend
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 10
    casually but loudly says "What the.. is ALL THAT? I never saw a permit come through for ALL THAT..". And he bounds downstairs and heads back to the office I'm guessing to pull files.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 11
    Here comes the best part. Through abutting property searches that we always perform as due diligence, we discovered that the neighbors side yard, in it's entirety, is an 80 foot wide utility easement for the single largest underground water aqueduct for the entire region. Can't be built on. We kept mum.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 12
    Now because there is also a seasonal creek that crosses said easement, Fish and Game are notified of the work in progress. In addition we now have the state Water Resources Board, along with the major water utility company inspections and enforcement department making inquires along with the town building department.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 13
    No permit application was ever submitted for any of the work Mr. Drone Guy had done. Oof. Our property sold and during some modifications for the new owner, we watched with subdued glee as every stick and stone was removed from the offending area and was to be left in "a natural state" for eternity. Major fines were also levied.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 14
    Tldr; PITA neighbor tries to strongarm our project but ends up getting his handed to him.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 15
    OlderMan42 He got what he asked for... everything done to bylaw and with permits! Btw... don't ever mess with bylaws guys...
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 16
    Professional-Gear-39. The Karma Fairy delivers a streaming helping of "ackchyually" to a deserving neighbor.
    via u/shouldaknown2
  • 17
    PatchworkRaccoon314. Great story, but I just can't imagine planting 30 thousand dollars worth of trees with the ease that one might give a neighbor a cup of sugar. This amount of wealth is obscene, so I'm glad at least one party got taxed by proxy.
    via u/shouldaknown2

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housing neighbors trees malicious compliance neighborhood malicious-compliance-reddit neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories terrible neighbors malicious compliance reddit
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