HOLMES BEACH – A controversial treehouse is scheduled to be dismantled by July 31 under a court order from the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for Manatee County.
Treehouse owner Lynn Tran said the city’s building department issued a demolition permit on July 23.
During a June hearing, an attorney for Tran and co-owner Richard Hazen, the owners of Angelinos Sea Lodge, said that a demolition permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) expires on July 31, creating the demolition deadline.
The couple has defended the treehouse against claims that it was built illegally since it was built in 2011. The owners have maintained that they contacted the Holmes Beach Building Department to inquire if they needed a permit to build a treehouse and were told they did not. City leaders say that not only did the owners need a permit from the city, they also needed one from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the two-story beachfront structure, which was built in an Australian pine tree, supported by poles decorated to look like tree trunks and sports windows.
After the fact permit applications to the city were denied due to the treehouse infringing on the erosion control line. Development seaward of the line is prohibited by state law.
In an attempt to keep the treehouse aloft, the owners petitioned the courts, going so far as to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter. The high court refused to hear the case and demolition of the treehouse was ordered by Judge Edward Nicholas in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for Manatee County in February.
Tran and Hazen received an extension of the July 3 deadline to obtain the demolition permit from the city. They hosted an opportunity over the July 4 holiday week for fans to say goodbye to the treehouse.
A compliance hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 8 at 11:30 a.m. with Nicholas.
