Lil’ Buddy Builds 50-foot Tree House, Pisses Off Neighbors

Telegram.com – Michael J. Chapman’s neighbors had no objections when he said he wanted to build a tree house in his backyard at 37 Lenox St.

“We had nothing to object to because there were no plans and nothing to look at,” said his next-door neighbor, Rudy Cepko. “Then we saw this thing progressing.”

Progressing, indeed. From one level to two, then to three and finally four, each platform connected by wooden stairs that wound around the big old oak, until the multistory tree house towered 50 feet high and overlooked the yards of Mr. Cepko and another neighbor, Worcester Fire Chief Gerard Dio.

A 48-year-old college professor, Mr. Chapman holds a Ph.D. in botany and said he’s loved the 300-year-old oak in his backyard since he moved to the city’s West Side 12 years ago.

“It holds great emotional value to me,” he said. “I don’t own the tree — I don’t have the temerity to make such a claim. But I’ve been looking at that tree for 12 years. I wanted to make something that would glorify the tree, and in my humble opinion, I’ve succeeded.”

It should be noted that, while Mr. Chapman is married, he has no children. Asked why he wanted to build the tree house, he said, “I envisioned sort of a Bancroft Tower for the neighborhood.”

But his neighbors have envisioned a bizarre structure that overlooks their yards and invades their privacy. Mr. Cepko, once good friends with Mr. Chapman, said he doesn’t use his backyard anymore and declined comment on Mr. Chapman’s claims that he threatened to burn the tree house down.

Unfortunately for Mr. Chapman, it’s also illegal. Deemed an “accessory structure” by code inspectors, it violates zoning ordinances that prohibit it from being higher than 15 feet, or located less than 5 feet from any lot line. Mr. Mikielian said he’s given Mr. Chapman until Nov. 3 to take it down.

“I’m fond of the tree house, so I have to finish it,” he said. “It’s apparently frightened the neighbors. It will be hard to take it down, but you can’t fight City Hall.”

Courtesy of Dianne Williamson of Telegram.com

What kind of moran creates a 50-foot high tree house and doesn’t think that his tough guy neighbor is going to believe that he created it so he can spy on his wife and catch a quick lil’ beat? Yeah I know you wanted to glorify the tree because you are absolutely in love with it. Paint a portrait of it and hang it in your living room.