Not in My Neighbor's Backyard

"When Les Firestein, a television producer, and his wife, Gwyn Lurie, a screenwriter, wanted to do something really special for their daughter, Sydney, they enlisted their friend Roderick Wolgamott Romero. Romero is a renowned builder of elaborate treehouses for such celebrities as Sting and Donna Karan. His work can be found in the "fantasy gift" section of this year's Neiman Marcus holiday catalog. Beginning price: $50,000."

"In the backyard of the Firestein-Lurie home, which sits on a tree-studded half-acre north of Sunset Boulevard, Romero and his buddies built a roughly 10-foot-by-10-foot structure of reclaimed wood, salvaged windows and vintage stained glass from Buenos Aires that would quicken the heart of any fun-loving child or parent. The treehouse includes a viewing deck bordered by a railing crafted from tree branches from the backyard."

"Richard Fleming, the couple's next-door neighbor and a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, was not amused. He feared that children could perch in this aerie and look in on him and his wife in their backyard pool and hot tub. He suspected, also, that city codes had been violated."

Television producer Les Firestein and screenwriter Gwyn Lurie commissioned renowned treehouse builder Roderick Wolgamott Romero to construct an elaborate treehouse for their 18-month-old daughter Sydney in their Brentwood backyard. The structure, built from reclaimed wood, salvaged windows, and vintage stained glass, cost only lodging and meals in exchange for Romero's work. The neighboring plastic surgeon Richard Fleming objected, fearing the treehouse would allow children to view into his backyard pool and hot tub area, and suspected city code violations. Los Angeles city inspector Thomas Sze arrived to investigate an anonymous complaint as the treehouse neared completion.

Read at Los Angeles Times