We appreciate this guy’s passion, but honestly, we wouldn’t want it hovering over our houses either.
A Newport Beach man who has been restoring a 72-foot wooden ship in his yard for six years has been ordered to remove the boat or risk going to jail.
The court order is the latest development in a long-running conflict between Dennis Holland, some of his neighbors and city officials, who sued the 65-year-old resident in an effort to have the vintage ship removed.
Holland now has until April 30 to remove the ship from his Holiday Road home, or face fines of up to $1,000 a day, or possibly jail time, according to Deputy City Atty. Kyle Rowen.
Superior Court Judge Gregory Munoz issued a preliminary injunction Thursday and set an April 30 trial date.
Holland has been restoring the Shawnee, a 1916 ketch, in his West Bay neighborhood home for about six years.
Some neighbors support the project, saying it adds a splash of character to the community, while others — including the couple who can see the stern from their bedroom — want it moved to an industrial area.
“We know it’s a step in favor of removing that big blight out of the neighborhood,” said neighbor Dalia Lugo.
Holland, who said his work was slowed when he underwent cancer treatment, said he needs another three to four years to restore the ship.
Last year, city officials took Holland to court after repeated fines and orders failed to budge the boat.
Holland has been violating a 2009 ordinance that requires him to obtain a permit and give officials an estimated completion date. Because Holland said the project is too complex to pick a date, the city hasn’t granted him a permit since 2010.
“Mr. Holland has been in violation of city laws for many years and has had ample opportunity to move the boat to a suitable location,” City Atty. Aaron Harp wrote in an email Friday. “The city is hopeful that Mr. Holland will comply with the court order and move the boat to a suitable location that is consistent with applicable laws.”
Holland contends that his restoration project was legal when he moved the boat to his home and that the city cannot retroactively enforce a law. He also argues that the city singled him out when it created the ordinance in 2009.
For the complete story, go to www.latimes.com.
You need to move way out into the country and you can build all you want. The hell with those
little towns with people with little minds that never do anything or go anywhere.
I support the project NOT for what it is….but for HOW it came about. If a neighbor likes to plant a Garden it is their hobby and character that sets them apart. Would the city retro and remove gardens? What about the young couple down the street wehose teenage sons hobby is restoring a sports car in the drive-way? How about those RV’s in someones driveway?…..Granted if it were a COOKIE-CUTTER neighborhood and fully restricted from the get-go thats one thing (move to Nebraska-plenty dull places there)….as far as the neighbors view from there window….they might have been able to say something inb the beginning,but this is on-going and perhaps they should be helping in the restoration so Karma doesn’t slap them in the face come the long run. I’d be quite pleased to see a RELIC from 1912 coming ti LIFE out my window. What a view into yesterday!
Captain Steve EHU
I have to say that the neighboring homes are more of an eyesore than the Shawnee. Check it out on Google Earth – coordinates: 33°38’24.02″N, 117°53’52.31″W.
Had a 48 footer. If it needed repair, I wouldn’t impose it on my neighbors for more than a short while. If I had cancer at that age, I’d be out sailing for the time that I had left instead of frigging around with an old piece of wood. M.L.
Let’s be honest, he’s never going to finish it for either financial or physical reasons. This is the type of project that takes a team to do.
I feel sorry for the guy, since it was legal when he started out. They should’ve passed an ordinance against all future projects like this, but he should’ve been grandfathered in. It would be like opening a business legally and then a couple years later, the city decides to rezone or whatever and suddenly, you have to move. I know, it does happen, but it’s not right. If I don’t like my neighbors yard, I don’t look at it. If I hate it that much, I can move.
In the commercial world, so many people are paid by 50 percent coins: cash and experience. Make experience first; the bucks arrive later.
What is the subject of life – to acquire rich? Those fellows out there getting rich could be dancing round the real subject of life.
YOU ARE A BIG NATION IN THE WORD AND A NICE PEOPLE
WHY DO’NT YOU HELP HIM TO FINISH HIS DREAM TRY TO FINE SOME WAY
I WILL LIKE TO CONTACT THIS OLD NICE MEN BEFORE HIS LIFE RUN AWAY