Construction recently began on a two- story building directly behind the driveway of my home.
A large, yawning bay window on the top story looks directly into my backyard.
This structure with a pitched (steeple) roof, nearly 30 feet high, dominated by the bay window up top, is a mere five feet from my fence, another five feet from my garage.
Neither I or my neighbors on either side on my street ever were informed by the city of this extraordinary structure being built.
Apparently, it is the result of an “amnesty enforcement case.” Owners were ordered to tear down an existing, illegal, single-story addition that was made from a converted two car garage.
When I spoke to Thomas Gorham in City Hall’s Planning Dept., where this new and improved larger structure was authorized, Mr. Gorham informed me that the new building was merely a “storage facility.”
However, the building permit he issued clearly states the building includes a “recreation room, laundry room, a three-quarters bathroom, storage area, and two single carports.
In other words, Culver City ordered the property owners to tear down a small, single-story garage converted into a guest house.
In its place, the city authorized a significantly larger, two-story, 26-foot tall recreation facility with all of the amenities, and the aforementioned large bay window on the second floor.
Simply put, someone tore down a little guest house behind my backyard.
The successor structure is a towering church-like structure.
The building not only does not fit in with its surroundings; it looks, well, odd.
Not only does the structure stick out like a sore thumb, it does not take a genius to see that it significantly diminishes the value of my home and property which I purchased and where my family and I have resided for 26 years.
What am I to do?
Mr. Hawkins may be contacted at rjhculvercity@aol.com
