Community Chat

[dmod nj]

Asking anyone who has had a house built like this couple......can they be forced to actually tear down the house?

Can they leave the house up, in the condition it is in?

I am asking because the residents don't want this house up in their neighborhood. But, if this couple has the option to keep it up, in the state it is in,.........isn't that more of an eyesore?

[JustJules]

On 5/1/2014 croemer said:

This in the guidelines stands out to me...therefore...yes they have a problem. It would be a shame but... the guidelines were clear in this paragraph. As emma said they gambled and may lose:

"The guidelines clearly state that any home, any new construction in the historic district should blend in and not stand out," he says. "And a home whose very intent is a living piece of art is intended to stand out."

Totally agree with you croemer. When I sold real estate in Colorado, there are lots of historic neighborhoods, and builders were scraping the old homes on big lots, or people were doing "pop tops" to existing one-story homes. There are very strict building codes, and all the architecture had to comply with the period of the neighborhood. Frankly I am surprised these people would take such a risk to build a modern style home in an historic district, but especially without getting the approval signed, sealed and delivered. All those permits needed to be signed off on, and even a "procedural appeal" would make me hesitate before spending all that money knowing there was a risk. An expensive gamble to make, and it is a pity because they could have chosen to build the house somewhere else and been perfectly fine.

[brii]

Well, if they are allowed to go ahead and finish the construction or have to tear it down and start over, I can't imagine they are going to be very friendly with the neighbor across the street who filed the appeal.

[Emma bunting]

On 5/1/2014 dmod nj said:

Asking anyone who has had a house built like this couple......can they be forced to actually tear down the house?

Can they leave the house up, in the condition it is in?

I am asking because the residents don't want this house up in their neighborhood. But, if this couple has the option to keep it up, in the state it is in,.........isn't that more of an eyesore?

The town would post a stop work order. But the people could leave it up indefinitely. If the town wants it gone, let them pay for it. I have seen this first hand.

[biancardi]

A few days later, Gail Wiesner, who lives in the sherbet-green bungalow across the street, filed a notice of intent to appeal.

I would be more upset living next to someone who painted their home sherbet green!! lol

[Emma bunting]

On 5/1/2014 biancardi said:

A few days later, Gail Wiesner, who lives in the sherbet-green bungalow across the street, filed a notice of intent to appeal.

I would be more upset living next to someone who painted their home sherbet green!! lol

hahahaha! Very true! And how the heck did THAT ever get past the historic commission is the better question!

[brii]

On 5/1/2014 biancardi said:

A few days later, Gail Wiesner, who lives in the sherbet-green bungalow across the street, filed a notice of intent to appeal.

I would be more upset living next to someone who painted their home sherbet green!! lol

Me too!

I still think their house is quite beautiful.

[biancardi]

The person who started the appeal - the one in a house that is sherbet green, actually called the design "garishly inappropriate". I laughed at that, because I don't think the house pictured below is garish - it is tame - and also someone whose home is painted sherbet green has the nerve to call someone else's home garish

[dmod nj]

On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:

On 5/1/2014 dmod nj said:

Asking anyone who has had a house built like this couple......can they be forced to actually tear down the house?

Can they leave the house up, in the condition it is in?

I am asking because the residents don't want this house up in their neighborhood. But, if this couple has the option to keep it up, in the state it is in,.........isn't that more of an eyesore?

The town would post a stop work order. But the people could leave it up indefinitely. If the town wants it gone, let them pay for it. I have seen this first hand.

Thanks Emma, that is what I thought, but wasn't sure.

It will be interesting to see what happens in this case. I hope the OP keeps us informed.

[tansy]

I wonder if the house's facade could be changed at all to help it fit in. The architect had quite an ego to build the house there.