lindalove

Somebody builds a house that blocks the view of their neighbor. The neighbor complains to the city. The builder gets even by installing a window shaped like a hand flipping the bird.

If the house being built is to code, plans approved by the city/county/whomever, the people with their view ruined need to deal and stop harrassing the neighbor. If the view was that important, he should have bought that land himself so that there was no chance of it being ruined. It is not his property, it is therefore not his decision.

Seeing the vent, I didn't really interpret it as giving the middle finger. Maybe the neighbor needs to get his mind out of the gutter, or stop looking so deeply into it to have another grievance with his neighbor. If I saw that without being told what the neighbor thinks it is, I would have never guessed it is that gesture.

I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments on this.

stevo

looks like a middle finger to me. he he. But I agree with you, he should have bought the land himself.

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Grancey

This just strikes me as hilarious. It sounds like the "offensive vent people" are going strictly by the rules. They were building their dream home, and the neighbors have made the process unpleasant for them. Hey, if that situation was mine and I had the opportunity I'd do something similar. Pushy people really get to me.

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absorbentishe

Man is that hilarious! A pain in the ass, will be reminded every time he looks that way of just how much a pain he must have been. From that photo, it certainly didn't look like his view is blocked! Grow up...

The_Jazz

When I was a kid, a guy in the neighborhood next to ours wanted to expand his house but needed a variance from his neighbor since the addition would have been 6" inside the easement. The neighbor wouldn't give him the variance, even after a substantial amount of money was offered. The first guy (who was wealthy enough to do this), painted the house completely purple, tore up the lawn and installed astroturf, cut down all the trees and hung University of Alabama paraphenalia all over place (the other neighbor was a huge Tennessee fan). It ended up in court and the judge ended up telling the second neighbor that he was a complete idiot for not taking the money in the first place.

This is no different.

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cyrnel

Even if the plans were given approval the neighbors can force the city to enforce building codes. Happens all the time up to the energy and budgets of the various parties. The builder has put himself somewhat in the odd-man-out position with that "vent". Still, sounds like the deal is close to done. Too bad. Very often with these disputes the builder is a developer without any real intention of living there and therefore they don't care about effects on the neighborhood. If the builder really intends to live there he should have worked this out beforehand. They _all_ should have acted like adults. Never makes for a happy living arrangement to have a bunch of homeowners at odds.

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SSJTWIZTA

Fucking awesome!

The man who thought of building that deserves the "Coolest Asshole of the Year" award in my book.

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Psycho Dad

I'm going to have to go with cry me a river.

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Halx

I think the picture of him staring at it across the yard is priceless. Its like.. "Is that... giant grate flipping us off?"

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ShaniFaye

I think it looks like the "finger"....what I dont think it looks like is a cactus

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flstf

It is a giant finger and it is cool. Just tell the uphill neighbors to get their mind out of the gutter and enjoy their new view of the modern cactus art.

People go crazy about their views. When I lived in Seattle people were killing dozens of 100+ year old trees located on city and others property to improve their views. The new view adds 10's of thousands to the property values.

Lady Sage

It reminds me of a house I saw in New York state... the city told him he had to have the color he wanted to paint it approved by the city... the city ruled in his favor that he could paint the house whatever color he wanted..... hehehehehe... so he painted it the brightest shade of purple ive ever seen in my life. You can see it from the throughway! It is fabulous!

Sage

On the one hand, yeah, it totally sucks when the lot next to you is bought and someone builds a house there.

On the other hand, if the city says this guy isn't breaking any code or ordinance, too bad. Like was previously stated, if he gave that much of a damn about his view he should of bought the lot. There are all sorts of things to consider when you buy/build a house, and one of them is "is my view going to be preserved if someone buys the lot next to me?" Honestly, it doesn't block the view that much, and if it bugged me, I'd just walk around naked with the blinds up

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genuinegirly

heh.
if you can afford a place of your own out in the middle of nowhere, maybe you can afford to sell it and get something different where your view isn't disturbed.

i just don't get it sometimes. How do these stories ever make it to the news? at least it provides us with a little laugh!

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Ch'i

I agree with Halx; that picture says everything, hahah.

dlish

as a builder myself.. this gives me great ideas for my future projects.. we always deal with dicks like these on every job..

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cyrnel

Looking at the picture again I'd say the ugliest thing is the guy's own fence. Gawd, why do people erect those shiny white abominations?

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Infinite_Loser

That's-- Plain and simply put-- Pure genius.

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Marvelous Marv

I see this shit all the time. My last adventure was when three people across the alley didn't want me to build three stories. Never mind that that's what the property was zoned for.

They all got their houses cheaper because they were right across the alley from an R-4 (maximum density) zone. Once they owned them, they just didn't want anyone to be allowed to build that high, even if it was within code.

Here's the appropriate way to deal with people who want to tell other people what to do with their own property:

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sky_driver

I would just plant some BIG Leland Cypress Trees that can grow up 30 feet or higher on my side of my fence to block the view of that house.

And it would be really great if the neighbor had a pool behind his house and my new trees just happened to block the sun from shining on his pool.

raeanna74

It doesn't appear to block the whole view. Just plant some big trees, as was mentioned, to block the view of the house. You could still see the mountains around it. It looks like a long enough chain of mountains that you'd be able to see them to the sides of the trees/neighbor's house.

Just think what good relations he's gonna have with his new neighbors. He's aliented someone who could have been a good friend and help in time of need.

I think the vent idea was gold. Just give you stupid apology and the homeowner said he'd take the vent off. Till then, just rot in your own crabbiness.

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flstf

Marv, that picture is hilarious. Disgruntled neighbor with hands on hips staring at the moon shot bush, priceless.

guthmund

And I think I'm going to have to agree.

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Dane Bramage

to me this is a perfect example of how some people just don't know what's important in life. why get a pissed over something as trivial as this. sure the view is obstructed, but as long as the guy is building within code, then there ain't jack that can be be done.

hey... if you cry me a river, then i'll stock it with fish, and we can all have some fun

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Angel_037

it does look like the middle finger but I thought it was funny. Could use one for my neighbors next to me..hehehe..but if the neighbors were so worried about what there complainning about then they should of bought the land like you said.

FoxyLucy

The words vulgar, tasteless, childish, moronic, crass and self-abasing spring to mind.

Marvelous Marv

That pretty much describes me. What's your point?

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FoxyLucy

All I´m saying is their neighbours are obviously ´neds´ as we say here in Scotland, I think you call them ´white trash´.

Marvelous Marv

Yeah, we do. I was just joking.

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lindalove

Update: The guy took down the vent.

kurtisj

Why in sam hell would they take that down?

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little_tippler

I must be the only one to not agree entirely with everyone's views no this. Though it is his property and he has a right to do what he wants, I'm sorry but what ever happened to courtesy? You move somewhere that others have been living harmoniously and peacefully for a long time and then just barge in and do whatever the hell you want, even if it upsets people around you. How would you like that if it happened to you? I agree that by now they are probably over-reacting, but I still think that this horrible contemporary habit of "I don't care about anyone else, this is mine I'll do what I want without any consideration for anyone" attitude, is awful.

I hate the way nowadays you can live somewhere and totally not give a damn about others around you and even antagonize them to the extent they hate you. And be happy with that. I could not live that way, I wonder how happy this guy is in his new wonderful home surrounded by a community that hate him? I'm not saying it's so important what others think about you, but I am saying it's good to get along with people and instead of isolating yourself, integrating yourself in a community.

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swmnkdinthervr

Hey...at least I took the wheels off my house...I'm in construction...have been for 30+ years...looks like the guy next door got everything he asked for...I'm pretty certain the courts won't want to play with this but if they do they'll have a tough time with the first amendment and proving that vent is lewd!!!

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skier

Is it the whole community that hates him? Or just the guy that owns the large property on top of the hill? I think you're making a big assumption here that may not be a reasonable one.

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