Purple Garage

[Charles (in GA)]

It seems the neighbors don't like it (I wouldn't either), but cannot seem to do anything about it. No covenants, no ordinances.

Charles

<script src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/js/2.0/video/evp/module.js?loc=dom&vid=/video/us/2009/04/13/pkg.big.purple.garage.komo" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript>Embedded video from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video">CNN Video</a></noscript>

 

[shocksystems]

The color of my neighbor's garage would not bother me. I noticed one of the neighbors said that he does not like how it blocks his view. I wonder if that is the bigger issue.

If he likes the color purple, let him paint it purple. At some point (like color) I think it should be an issue of freedom of expression.

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

If I lived in that area I would be looking for a way to torch it! Illegal yes, not right yes, unethical yes, no I cannot defend what my position is, but that is what I would do.

However first I would start looking to change the zoning laws so the sorry SOB could not do the same damned thing again.

That think is like yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre.

(I think that only cause no one is living there)

 

[randydupree]

i like it,and can't wait to see the house!

 

[krusty the clown]

i'll be damned if the "community" would dictate what kind of house i build..........

seem's odd that the same people who ***** about HOA's (formed for the same purpose) would be in favor of dictating what color the neighbors house could be.........

 

[slghmmr88]

i'll be damned if the "community" would dictate what kind of house i build..........

seem's odd that the same people who ***** about HOA's (formed for the same purpose) would be in favor of dictating what color the neighbors house could be.........

I would have to agree. It also looks pretty well built.

 

[ovilla]

It's things like this that do make me feel good about living in a HOA. I know they can be a PITA but it at least stops stuff like this from happening. In my HOA we can't have above ground pools (don't need one anyway since there's a huge pool at the club house), no sheds, no work vans/trucks can be parked outside (must be garaged at all times), no outdoor parking of boats, RV's, inoperable cars, etc.. We also can't store garbage cans or firewood outside (this a tough one but oh well). Fences are also regulated and must be made of cedar wood and follow one of two heights and looks. There's also a ton of laws that prohibit anything other than "common" household pets. Also, you must submit plans and get pre-approval from the HOA for anything you want to build on your property (and they must include color choices). Anyway, I knew what I was getting into before I bought my house and gladly accepted the terms.

At my last house we had no HOA and as a result had a car across the street with two flat tires that never ever moved (at least during the six years that I lived there). We also had a boat in a driveway about 5 houses down, actually mostly on the sidewalk, that was taken out maybe 1-2 times year. Another house had a huge RV that also never moved and blocked the drive way, right down to the street. After living there, I swore I'd rather live in a HOA or out in the country.

Having said all this, I do agree that if this guy built his purple house out in the country then he's totally within his rights to do so. I feel sorry for the neighbors but he's within his legal rights to build whatever he likes, and in turn so are they. God Bless America!!!

 

[Brunsi]

And I bet you pay a hefty assn fee just to have all those rules.

 

[Racecarl]

In a small town close by, a homeowner has a pretty big house right on the highway through town. He worked a lot of hours at a job that didn't pay that well and his house was needing painted. He worked all summer in the evenings scraping old paint and all his adjacent property owners (not neighbors) did was give him grief about how long it was taking ect. No one offered to help--all they did was complain.

The story goes that he was just about done with surface prep when he walked into the coffee shop for breakfast. The locals were giving him **** (again) about getting his eyesore house painted. He calmly told them that he would be done prepping that day and would begin painting the next day.

Their jeers must have broke the last straw because he went to the paint store and ordered purple and pink paint, colors similar to the colors in the video. He began painting the house, first a primer that was white and then the finish coat of purple. This REALLY set off all the complainers. I heard the guy was smiling the whole time he was painting the house.

I think this guy would have painted his house a normal color had it not been for all the people complaining. I would not want to live next to this house, but I would not be complaining about somebody doing the best he could in present circumstances. I think there are too many people that are adjacent property occupiers and not neighbors. I think we need more neighbors.

 

[rsanter]

hell that dont look too bad. plum crazy purple or bright orange would have been much worse
anybody remember the different colors Madona painted her house

bob

 

[akdiesel]

I will agree that If I am paying for the morgage on a home I don't want someone else to tell me how to take care of it, but your neighbors are some of your best freinds or your worst enemies.
There is the old saying "When in Rome".
I would suggest (this is just a suggestion) if you move from one part of the country don't expect to take your old living conditions to the new place of residency.
Many individuals left California because they did not like the way things were going and moved to the northern states and now they want to make living conditions like their old place and now taxes are driving out the original neighbors.

 

[ovilla]

And I bet you pay a hefty assn fee just to have all those rules.

Not really. There are a lot of other HOA communities where I live as it looks like my town's village planner made builders purposely set aside more green space and "common" areas. As a result, I know folks that pay higher association fees and yet don't have anything to show for it. My fees have been the same for 6 years now, and are roughly $60 a month and that covers an external HOA Management company that helps enforce rules for an HOA board (made up of homeowners), daily pool maintenance (where a company comes and checks the pool equipment and also checks and cleans/adjusts the PH of our two pools - which are free of use to all residents), a pond management company that manages 5 big ponds (all stocked with tons of fish), as well as general maintenance for a club house (which also has a work out area with a TV with cable), a landscaping company that mows the grass in all "Common" areas (you still have to mow your own lawn). The fee also covers the care and maintenance of about 100 or so trees and tons of landscaping all around the subdivision as well as in main entrances into the subdivision. Part of the fee also goes for community events like movie nights during the summer, in which all food and entertainment is free. We do Easter, 4th of July, Halloween parties, Christmas parties, as well as spring break and back to school events (a lot of kid stuff) and even a big subdivision block party too. It's worked out really well.

I don't live in a gated community with a guard (not that fancy). It's just a nice subdivision that looks as tidy as the day we moved in. You just have to read all of the fine print in whatever HOA you're going to join and then figure out if it's for you or not. It's definitely not for everyone. Funny thing is that I've never heard anybody complain about living in our subdivision.

 

[Brad54]

Put up a screen of trees on your property to block the view of the color you don't like, and shut up. There isn't an HOA, you have no business telling someone else how to paint their house.

Two of the people interviewed said they liked the view before the house was there--I agree with a previous poster: I'll bet there was more leading up to the problem before the paint went on.
-Brad

 

[e-tek]

No inoperable cars ovilla???? I feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Foul]

I think there are too many people that are adjacent property occupiers and not neighbors. I think we need more neighbors.

damn straight! I moved into my house three years ago and have talked with maybe 20 percent of my neighbors, and it's a neighborhood with closely spaced houses. Only ever seen the inside of one of the neighbors' houses.

It seems to be easier for some people to ***** and complain - even to the media - than it is to go up to a neighbor and have a frank discussion about things like this.

dan

 

[mmg440]

I think it is a question maybe what came first the purple or the complaint. It sound like the one adjacent property occupier doesn't like it there anyway not just the color. There may have been people in the area trying to stop the build so the purple may be just a jester back to them.
Kinda Like the guy who made the finger vent because his adjacent property occupier complained making him have to lower his house by 18"
http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/ventcover.asp

 

[chevelle67]

It`s pathetic that people believe they have the right to try and impose their will on others, am i the only one that saw that lady had a telescope pointed out that window? I bet it has yet to be pointed at the sky but she knows what her neighbors wear to work everyday.

 

[Piper]

In a small town close by, a homeowner has a pretty big house right on the highway through town. He worked a lot of hours at a job that didn't pay that well and his house was needing painted. He worked all summer in the evenings scraping old paint and all his adjacent property owners (not neighbors) did was give him grief about how long it was taking ect. No one offered to help--all they did was complain.

The story goes that he was just about done with surface prep when he walked into the coffee shop for breakfast. The locals were giving him **** (again) about getting his eyesore house painted. He calmly told them that he would be done prepping that day and would begin painting the next day.

Their jeers must have broke the last straw because he went to the paint store and ordered purple and pink paint, colors similar to the colors in the video. He began painting the house, first a primer that was white and then the finish coat of purple. This REALLY set off all the complainers. I heard the guy was smiling the whole time he was painting the house.

I think this guy would have painted his house a normal color had it not been for all the people complaining. I would not want to live next to this house, but I would not be complaining about somebody doing the best he could in present circumstances. I think there are too many people that are adjacent property occupiers and not neighbors. I think we need more neighbors.

Very well put Racecarl. I wholly agree.

Piper

 

[hot rod 91174]

I think that it is all a bunch of bs. like stated before, there is another problem at hand, and thier using the color of the place as a scapegoat. I do not think it should matter what color your house is as long as it is not a slop job. what if it was pianted green or yellow. I personally like it for being different and out of the ordinary!!

 

[JohnK007]

Notice at one point in the story the male complainer saying he "objects to the building blocking part of his view"? There's more at work here than just the color of the house. This guy sounds pissed because someone built on that property. Bet it wouldn't matter what color they painted it, he sounds like the type who would find something to complain about. And yeah, I noticed the telescope behind that hag and thought exactly the same thing. I think the owners put up an interesting garage/apt. I hope they post interior shots here on GJ !!

 

[randydupree]

It`s pathetic that people believe they have the right to try and impose their will on others, am i the only one that saw that lady had a telescope pointed out that window? I bet it has yet to be pointed at the sky but she knows what her neighbors wear to work everyday.

oh yeah i saw the scope..

 

[Mike83]

Yeah, notice how right behind the house is a mountain range. Of course the neighbors are mad the house is there - they want to look at mountains, not a purple house. I don't think it looks that bad, but I also like screwing with people so I'm all for it

 

[Ironcrow]

I think the biggest problem the neighbors have is that the new guy is wealthy and from California. Wankers. I hope the new guy builds his victorian house and makes it even bigger and just as purple.

 

[ghnl]

Growing up we lived across the street from a pink house. It actually made it easy to tell people where we lived - you could see the pink house from three streets away.

When my sister got married Dad sent out all the invitations with directions to our house - including the bit about 'look for the pink house'. The week before her wedding he looked out the window and saw (to his dismay) that the neighbor was setting up to paint the house a different color! He hurried across the street and explained what he'd done. They understood and moved the ladders & scaffolding to start on the back instead.

All the guests were able to find our house with no problem.

 

[Tantara]

That is the same color of lavender my Grandmother painted her house. Would have been about 1968, nobody complained. What makes people think that everyone being alike is better, I like variety.

Brad

 

[bookman51]

Someone just has more time on their hands to think about things than they need. Does not look all that bad to me. Just a little different but nothing wrong with that.

Bookman

 

[T56 Impala]

So its purple? It is tastefully done. Looks well built. I don't see the issue.

Maybe I should get everyone here to sign a petition for lower taxes because of the drought. We can't use our in ground sprinkler systems and the landscaping looks bad. Oh, wait, the roads are 16 years old and are showing signs of wear. They MUST be lowering the value of our property, right?

I have an HOA where I am. It *****! I would much rather live in an area without one. Oh well, too later since the property values have dropped so much. We can't get what we paid for this place in today's market. Thank goodness its nearly paid for!

 

[blkhonda1991]

i hate the way people have become. we have been so programed to like the cookie cutter earth tone houses that go up in every neighborhood that all look the same that no one wants to think outside the box anymore. I ll never buy a home in a subdivision if i can help it, there no character to the house and my neighbors 3 doors down have the same house in a slightly different color. As other has mentioned before it seems the underlying issue is that the house blocks their view. if there is undeveloped land where you buy your house there is ALWAYS a possiblity of something being built so enjoy your views while you have them and dont be a baby about it when someone finally builds on THEIR land. I applaud the owner of the purple garage for building something different and not conforming to eveyone else.

one other thing, someone else mentioned inoperable cars sitting in the neighbors driveway...most towns have an ordinance that governs that you cant have un registered cars sitting outside rotting or they will be towed...no need for a HOA

 

[Big_Grizzly]

It is rediculous the way people are acting now. When I was in the market looking for land I heard a bad story about a local lady. Apparently she had found a great piece of land that wasn't under any current subdivision regulations. She purchased a manufactured home and had it delivered and setup. The local neighbors with their huge, expensive houses didn't like the way the manufactured home looked in an area where there are $200k+ houses. So they went to the courthouse and dug up all the records they could find on the property in that area. Come to find out that part of her property extended into the unused area of the subdivision and it became subject to their rules. The people took a vote and had her removed which cost her no telling how much money to move the house and garage which had been established for several months while these idiots did their research.

After hearing that, I vowed that I would never, ever live in a subdivision where other people could dictate what I did with MY home.

 

[nate379]

Many HOAs are a complete crock of ****.

I made DAMN sure that when I bought my house the rules were not ridiclous. I think none is better than some, but I liked the house and the area so I can deal with a few things.

No trash burn barrels... But no mention of a "fire pit"
Not more than 1 outside dog.... no one will even notice if they don't bark, which mine don't much.

Can't build anything else on the lot other than a shed (so 2nd garage, etc)... No size limit on shed just can't have a slab... so I could build a 30x40 shed if I wanted to Was told I don't have to pull a permit for anything under 24x24 either.

No junkyards.. not a big deal... my cars all have plates on them.

Some rules on fences if you live on a corner lot as to not block the road, but that is common sense and probbably a traffic law anyhow.

 

[ket-tek]

That's an awesome garage no matter the color!! That side door is huge, like 14' tall or so it seems..

If they think that garage is blocking the view now, I wonder how big the house is going to be once it is built?

I don't think I would mind living near it. I'd make friends with the family and hang out in the garage with them.

 

[wrigh003]

The people who are complaining need to shut their pieholes. It's not that bad. It appears to be a perfectly well-built structure, and the color isn't even all that offensive. If it was neon purple or the color of Barney the dinosaur, that'd be one thing. This is fine- hell, even if it WAS the color of Barney the dinosaur, what business is it of the neighbor what color it is? Some people.

 

[JohnK007]

That's an awesome garage no matter the color!! That side door is huge, like 14' tall or so it seems..

If they think that garage is blocking the view now, I wonder how big the house is going to be once it is built?

I don't think I would mind living near it. I'd make friends with the family and hang out in the garage with them.

THAT'S what I was thinking when I saw it too. The male half of the new owners obviously has something in mind for that garage. Might be a good guy to become friends with.

 

[PurdueSD]

It's things like this that do make me feel good about living in a HOA. I know they can be a PITA but it at least stops stuff like this from happening. In my HOA we can't have above ground pools (don't need one anyway since there's a huge pool at the club house), no sheds, no work vans/trucks can be parked outside (must be garaged at all times), no outdoor parking of boats, RV's, inoperable cars, etc.. We also can't store garbage cans or firewood outside (this a tough one but oh well). Fences are also regulated and must be made of cedar wood and follow one of two heights and looks. There's also a ton of laws that prohibit anything other than "common" household pets. Also, you must submit plans and get pre-approval from the HOA for anything you want to build on your property (and they must include color choices). Anyway, I knew what I was getting into before I bought my house and gladly accepted the terms.

^ now if that doesnt sound like hell i dont know what does....

I'd rather drive by a house with a car parked on the street or a boat in the driveway than have someone tell me my house must look exactly the same as the 300 other houses that were all built by the same builder with 3 different "styles". (or lack there of)

Yikes...

 

[Kevin54]

It`s pathetic that people believe they have the right to try and impose their will on others, am i the only one that saw that lady had a telescope pointed out that window? I bet it has yet to be pointed at the sky but she knows what her neighbors wear to work everyday.

I seen that right from the get-go. And I bet she is one of the neighbors that went around to all the other neighbors to stir the pot. That damn telescope has never made it past horizontal position but I bet it has been around and around quite a few times. She probably spends 95% of her awake time snooping and gossiping. Someone should "stage" a murder in their house just to give her something to talk about. BTW...not really feeling the color of the garage but it is one awesome garage If the neighbors hadn't started complaining about the view, it would probably have been a beige color.

 

[biker]

Well atlease it's not a Wal-Mart there or a hog farm. Or maybe a garbage dump. Ha, Ha
Sh&&t I like it.

 

[shaune]

For all the problems of the world these whinners have this to ***** about !!!!
What happens if someone doesn't like blue, or green or gray, this is a petty dispute between nut case neighbours. Lets all have brown houses that look all the same.
The more people i meet.....the more i like my dog !!!

 

[Shocker]

Well, this shop is in my neck of the woods. Actually, my parents live in Sequim, so I will check it out next time I go up there.

This sure has brought out a lot of different feelings about what you can and can't do with your property. I personally am of 2 minds on the subject.

I like to have a lot of freedom with what I do, especially around my home. That being said, I do take into account how what I do, affects my neighbors and the area. I like to think I am a considerate guy and would not just do what the hell I want because I pay taxes and it is my chunk of land.

Having said THAT, I keep getting calls from the city about "junk in my yard". I have a 24' Bayliner in my driveway along with a busted down Fiat. I have lived here for 8 years and never had a problem until recently. I built the shop in the back along with some decent asphalt parking area. The motorhome is back there now and I will move the boat when I fix the broken axle on the trailer. The Fiat is getting parted out when the shop floor is done.

So I see both sides. I think that some of you who are annoyed with "some people" might feel the same way if one of your neighbors did something perfectly legal, but really brought down the value of your home. Maybe a small pig farm stinkin' up the place? Who knows what could push your buttons.

Funny thing that caught my attention was the color. My parents had to sue their neighbor for breaking the covenants of their new neighborhood. The folks did get a variance to build a 2 1/2 story victorian style home on their lot. All is OK, but then they built a HUGE garage with a full apartment above to rent out. Both are bright pink with white trim and some purple accents.

My dad talked to the folks several time saying that there would be a problem with renting an apartment to someone in the retirement neighborhood, but he just ignored it. So along with several other homeowners, they sued him and now the guy has to remove the roof and apartment. Didn't even get to trial. The judge said they clearly violated the covenants of the neighborhood etc etc.

So there ya go. We live in a free society, but it does have rules. If you knowingly break em, be prepared to pay the consequences.

With no rules, I live by the rule , "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

 

[Bevis]

^ now if that doesnt sound like hell i dont know what does....

I'd rather drive by a house with a car parked on the street or a boat in the driveway than have someone tell me my house must look exactly the same as the 300 other houses that were all built by the same builder with 3 different "styles". (or lack there of)

Yikes...

I bought a house that was in a HOA, that i knew nothing about. I broke every rule they had and more. swept all the ammo casings out of my truck on to the driveway and flower beds (mulch ). the HOA finally got together and bought my house from me... it was mine, and no one was going to tell me what or how I could do something.

 

[ColoradoBob]

It's interesting that the complainers moved into an area without covenants or an HOA and then complained about another neighbors house. Presumably they moved there because they didn't want anyone telling them what they could or could not do with their property, but it seems that only applies if others do what they want. If you want to tell your neighbors what color they can paint their house, move into an HOA neighborhood.