As Los Angeles officials demolished a beloved neighborhood treehouse, wildfire victims wondered when scarce local resources would be available to help clear out and approve permitting to rebuild their burned-down homes.
Although the petition to save the 24-year-old, iconic, front-yard treehouse of “Simpsons” producer Rick Polozzi has collected nearly 7,000 signatures, the city appears set to move forward with demolition. Polozzi has faced years of legal battles against the city and has been attempting to legalize the structure by classifying it as an “accessory dwelling unit” or ADU.
Polozzi has reportedly spent over $50,000 trying to preserve the structure he built for his daughters, including the legal costs for defending against misdemeanor charges filed by the city for his violation.
His attorney told the Los Angeles Times that the city has requested that he provide soil reports, structural designs and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance documentation for the structure — a tall order for a decades-old treehouse at a private home.
Local officials, including his local city council member, have voiced support for the treehouse.
“Our goal has always been to find a pathway to preserve the treehouse, which has brought so much joy to neighbors, and our office is willing to continue that work in cooperation with Mr. Polizzi,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman in a statement.
Wildfire victims, including comedian and nationally syndicated radio and podcast house Adam Carolla, wondered about the allocation of city resources as so many fire victims still need assistance.
“No workers have cleared any lots in Malibu, but a bunch of guys were able to clear that guy’s tree house in Studio City,” said Carolla on X.
While Malibu is not part of Los Angeles, residents of the Pacific Palisades, which was largely destroyed by the Palisades Fire, have faced significant challenges in getting what should be by-right permits from the city.
Alexis Rivas, who submitted plans for an accessory dwelling unit of less than 800 square feet, has been documenting his daily permit struggles on X. His latest update, at the 37-day mark on March 13, followed a new notice of a delay from the city.
On day 36, Rivas was sent a message by the city that while the governor’s order for streamlining rebuilding permitting for ADUs is in effect, that the mayor’s streamlining order neglected to include ADUs, and would have to be updated to reflect the governor’s order.
“The current mayor’s order does not include ADUs, but the governor’s order does,” said the city to Rivas. “There should be a new mayor’s order that will be released in the coming weeks that clarifies the ADU issue.”
Rivas said this should be one of the simplest structures to approve, and wondered about the challenges families would face in rebuilding something more complicated, like a house.
“Still no movement on this Palisades permit. A sub 800-sq.ft. ADU pre-approved by both the state and the city, on a flat lot,” lamented Rivas. “If it takes this long for something so simple, how are thousands supposed to rebuild after the fires? We need real accountability — enough with the red tape.”
