One man’s $30K treehouse is a neighbour’s ‘Berlin Wall’
John Alpeza isn’t ready to abandon ship.
Six years ago he started building a simple treehouse for his sons. It has morphed into an elaborate, boat-themed retreat — and a heated neighbourhood dispute, with the city deeming the structure in violation of zoning bylaws.
Alpeza grew up “the old-fashioned” way, playing outside with whatever he could find. “The imagination world was so rich.”
Now a father of two young sons, Alpeza’s imagination is just as rich, but his toys are bigger.
Last Friday, he said, the city gave him a week to tear down the $30,000 structure or face a court-ordered removal.
It’s the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between Alpeza and his neighbours. Though cries of “save the boat” could be heard on Wednesday on the Swansea street, Marita Bagdonas, next door, is less enthusiastic.
“It looks like a Berlin Wall,” she said. “Look how high it is. It’s ridiculous. Even my laundry doesn’t dry any more properly,” she said from her kitchen. “I get no sun whatsoever. All my flowers are ruined over the years down there. I had beautiful roses.”
Bagdonas, 90, moved to Canada in 1949 from Lithuania by way of Germany with her mother. For 64 years she has lived on Deforest Rd. For the past 10 years she has been crossing paths with the Alpezas.
Bagdonas previously complained about the Alpezas’ proposal, already approved by the adjustment committee, to build a third storey on their house. The issue went to the Ontario Municipal Board, where the application was ultimately denied.
City spokespeople did not directly answer when asked if the city had ordered the treehouse be taken down or whether the city itself will remove it.
According to an emailed statement from city staff, investigators determined in 2014 the structure did not require a building permit, but the treehouse was too high and the owner was asked to alter it or apply for a minor zoning variance.
“To date, there has been no action taken by the owner,” said Mark Sraga, director of investigations for the city of Toronto.
The statement went on to say the owner had been given “several opportunities” to respond and, “based upon the owner’s failure to comply,” the city will lay charges over the zoning contravention and the matter will go to the courts for a decision.
“I have worked in good faith with city staff for over a year and a half to provide any applications or drawings they have requested in order to get our treehouse approved,” Alpeza said in an email response to the city’s statement. Six months ago, he made what he thought was the final submission, but heard nothing until he got a phone call “out of the blue” last Friday. “We were going through a whole process. They just stopped the whole process and said, ‘We’re done.’ I never got a chance to be heard,” he said.
Mayor John Tory told reporters on Wednesday morning that he has asked staff to take another look at the file.
“As much as I admire the immense cre- ativity, because I’ve seen a picture of the treehouse, we also do have to make sure we’re mindful of safety considerations and also neighbourhood considerations,” Tory said.
“On the other hand, I hope we can do that in a way that does reflect discussion with the homeowner to accommodate those goals, as opposed to looking like we’re soreheads or party poopers,” he said.
Whatever the issue, Alpeza says his goals are simple: a close-knit family, a simple life, a healthy environment.
“It’s such a losing battle for almost every parent. You cannot compete against the Internet. You cannot compete against video games,” he said.
Though he admits he and the Bagdonas have “history,” he didn’t build the tree house to upset anyone, says Alpeza. He just wanted to enjoy his backyard.
Bagdonas says it would be fine with her if the city took the treehouse down, but she’s not going to fight it if it doesn’t.
“What can I do? I don’t have any money to fight in court,” she said.
“Everybody has their own opinion . . . I am now the culprit. But I didn’t complain about it.”
Calls to Bagdonas’ daughter, who Alpeza says lodged the complaint, were not returned before deadline.
Shali Hill, who has lived in the house two doors down from the Alpezas for 25 years, said she is firmly in the “save the boat” camp.
“Come on, it’s a nice thing for the kids.” With files from David Rider