So they built a house between me and my view

[Robb]

In the past, I'd wash dishes and look out at bootiful mountains.

My kitchen window now stares blithely at plywood. :(

What's the appropriate response? Dynamite or gasoline? :shrug:

[lizziegrace]

1. Lightening

no arson charge that way. ;)

[trof]

2. If yer really serious...NAPALM!

I may be able to arrange it.
Have friends in an ANG fighter squadron.
;-)

[Robb]

5. I can see it now

...Can I yell into a big radio and stay stuff like "Foxtrot Charlie Underpants!! Echo niner-poo-head!!" :D

[matcom]

7. don't yell 'Underpants'

he might be running for President and it might tarnish his image with "swing" voters :D

*look in GDP for the thread* :P

[trof]

14. Roger that.

"Big Mama, Baby Boy 2 has target acquisition. I'm in, locked on, loaded, and hot."
:evilgrin:

[matcom]

3. you can move mountains Robb

i have faith in you :D

sorry about your view x(

[Shakespeare]

4. Well, if you lived in CA, you could sue.

You'd be amazed how many lawsuits there are for that specific thing (mostly in the bay area).

[dysfunctional press]

8. how can somebody sue for losing their view?

if somebody owns property between where they live and what they're looking at, and puts up a legal structure on that property that ends up blocking the view- what's actionable about that?

[Shakespeare]

9. If you own a multi-million dollar home in Tiburon overlooking the Goldern Gate Bridge....

...apparently, you can sue. Or from various other high-dollar neighborhoods. Those folks take their views VERY seriously.

The view is considered a factor in the property's value, so if you impede that, it's potentially actionable.

[dysfunctional press]

10. but don't you have a right to build a legal structure on your own property?

doesn't that trump somebody else's view?

[Shakespeare]

12. That's something you'd better look into before you buy property.

If you can build a structure that doesn't block the view, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting all the necessary permits. If not, then you're in for a fight that probably won't be successful in the long run.

If there's an existing structure, and your structure goes between them and the view--then you'd better lawyer up.

I didn't say it was right or sane, just saying it happens with surprising frequency in CA.

[dysfunctional press]

15. i guess people have a right to sue for whatever they want...

winning is another thing.
and as long as you're building a legal structure that conforms to zoning laws- they can't legally stop you.

if they can, then i would definitely add california to the texas/florida list of states too fucked-up to ever consider living in.

[Elidor]

24. You would think so, but it's different for rich people

They have to invent new things to fight about because they're so jaded.

[YankeyMCC]

13. In NH

You can get an abatement on your property tax if your view becomes obstructed since "view" is part of the assessment calculation.

I haven't heard of a case but I suppose there might be basis for a suit in NH for loss of property value.

[dysfunctional press]

17. i could see getting a break on a tax assessment-

but if somebody puts up a legal structure on their property, it's not their fault if your propertty loses it's view, and a share of it's value.

i worked on a lakefront highrise in chicago- it went up on the site of a former kellogg mansion, a few blocks south of belmont. the building directly to the west of the new high-rise was also a high-rise(although shorter than the new one). and since the building on the site had been just a big house, and not a high-rise, all of the floors above the third had floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the spectacular lake michigan view- now all they take in is the new building 50 feet away.

and to the north of the building site was another condo high-rise whose residents lost their unobstructed view of the chicago skyline and the lakeshore.

and not a singl person in either of those high-rises had a legal leg to stand on, as far as suing the owners of the new building for the lost views and property values.
basically- shit happens.

[Shakespeare]

19. I think the key there may be single family dwelling v. multi-tenant structure.

That makes a world of difference in the argument, how it affects value, etc.

[dysfunctional press]

20. it shouldn't make any difference...

those condo-owners are just as much property owners as those with a single-family dwelling. and if either loses a view to a legal structure- that's life. people can't expect to be reimbursed monetarily every time something doesn't go their way.

[Shakespeare]

22. Of course it makes a difference.

They only own a small portion of the overall structure, and not everyone in the structure has the same view.

And I understand to an extent why some of these people take legal action. Most of the lawsuits stem from people adding on to their existing property, and the addition is what blocks the view--and when you pay a premium for a structure FOR that view, then no, it's not just something not going your way. You've been materially deprived of something you paid for, something that has an actual value. An impressive number of property deeds now include provisions stating that you cannot build structures of a certain size, or add on to the existing structure if it blocks the view.

[YankeyMCC]

21. I am just telling you the law and the possible basis for a suit

I'm not a lawyer but I can see someone using that assessment and the implied loss of value as a basis of a suit. You might not think it's morally correct, I'm just saying there may be a legal basis.

[Hosnon]

23. Abuse of Rights. I don't know if any state recognizes it and the building would

have had to have been put up maliciously.

It's a bit more popular in Europe but I think we should adopt some variation of it.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Simple

Photo the mountain scene, have it made into a huge wall mural and plaster it up on their wall :evilgrin:

[BarenakedLady]

11. Probably not the same

But I was totally devestated when they built a house behind me. I mean I cried and cursed and thought that everything would suck from then on. I lost my wilderness, my ability to believe I was alone in the woods. Fast forward several years later. Here is the view I was so sick over.



See the top of the house back there? Lucky for me, pine trees seem to grow at an amazing speed.

[SPKrazy]

25. Wow, That Is A Pretty Place BNL

kind of rolling hills, cool!

:pals:

[LaurenG]

16. I love the smell of a nice fire in winter.

:rofl:

[jpgray]

18. Seeing that you're in CO

Get someone to build a bigger, uglier house in the way of -this- guy's view. The system works.

[trof]

26. OK, fire the nukes.

Armageddon.
That'll fix the bastids.

[Elidor]

27. My parents' house used to be surrounded by beautiful woods

One day two spinster church-ladies from Chatanooga came to look at the lot next door. I warned my parents: "Let's turn on some loud rock music - or rap, better yet - and take off all our clothes and run out there nekkid and greet them with pagan chants. Otherwise, your private sanctuary is about to be ruined forever." They were seriously tempted, but just not ready to go so far so fast. Alas, I was right. When I visit them now and we sit on the deck out back, trying to ignore the new house less than a stone's throw from their back door, they tell me that. "You were right. We should have got nekkid."