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City Makes Kids Tear Down Treehouse
The treehouse Brenk Johnson built with his two little boys will have to be torn down because city officials consider it an “accessory building.”
The Johnsons’ neighbor narked on them after Brenk decided to build the treehouse in the front yard because no trees in the backyard would support the weight.
According to the Dallas NBC affiliate, treehouses are OK’d in University Park, TX, but not in front yards. So Johnson appealed the city to amend the code – or at least give him a little time for his kid’s to grow up with a treehouse before forcing him to tear it down. They said no dice.
Acting like a grown up, Johnson admitted defeat and says he’ll take it down. He told NBC he was disappointed, but grateful to the city for allowing him to present his argument. We applaud this dad for fighting for his kid’s childhood . . . and then showing them a great example of what it means to be a good neighbor and team player.
It sucks for them to lose their treehouse, yeah, but it’s better to have a dad who acts like a grown up in the face of a challenge.
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[...] not want to settle in University Park, Texas, though — if you want to build a front-yard treehouse, that is. Because, well, the city is making one family tear theirs down, says [...]
PlanetKid » Friday Finds: Spooky Crayons and Stroller Upgrades commented on Oct 30 09 at 12:37 amAmanda commented on Oct 22 09 at 12:25 pmIt’s sad that people don’t actually have the right to build something as harmless as a treehouse on their own property in America.
jenny tries too hard commented on Oct 22 09 at 1:18 pmAmen, Amanda. The dad was really mature about it, though, and sets a great example for his kids.
Ri-chan commented on Oct 22 09 at 2:43 pmMaybe he can build them a fort in the back yard? Those are pretty fun too.
patricia commented on Oct 22 09 at 4:45 pmWhat a jerk neighbor. They and the retirement community people kicking the 6 year old into foster care should go live in some anti-social community somewhere. Jeez.
Emily commented on May 25 10 at 3:07 pmThis isn’t fair. It’s not like the family is charging kids to play there, and as far as I know, it wouldn’t make home values drop either. It’s a win-win situation! And yeah, that neighbor should just take it up with the family, not the city.
Emily commented on May 25 10 at 3:07 pmThis isn’t fair. It’s not like the family is charging kids to play there, and as far as I know, it wouldn’t make home values drop either. It’s a win-win situation! And yeah, that neighbor should just take it up with the family, not the city.
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