Neighbors Give Boat Restorer a Hard Time

[Jay Greer]

Dennis Holland is in trouble. He is fighting cancer. His driving force of life is currently the restoration of the 71' yawl "Shawnee". The boat is located in Dennis's front yard in Costa Mesa California. Dennis is not new to boat building or restoration. He once built the topsail schooner "Pilgrim of Newport", a replica of the Baltimore Clipper "Joe Lane", in another home building project some thirty years ago. At that time, his neighbors were more enthusiastic about his project and would often stop in to give him a hand completeing the project that took up some ten years of his life. Now, there is a new breed of yuppy neighbors living next to this well qualified builder. Even though the "Shawnee" is a beautiful example of a bygone era of genteel yachting and is well deserving of the touch of the masters hands, they consider the boat to be an eyesore and are raising cain with the city to have the boat removed. In Dennis's case the boat is the driving force that keeps him from succuming to the big C. Those of us who know him and have worked with him feel that this is an exceptional situation that deserves a bit of compassion from both his neighbors and the City of Costa Mesa. Perhaps a letter or two to the City might spark a bit of support for the saving of both Dennis and the "Shawnee".
Here is the url for an article that appeared in the Daily Pilot, the local paper in Newport Beach CA.
http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2...land052809.txt
Jay

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I agree. But I am not sure if support from a foreigner would be welcome. It might be counterproductive.

[Bob Triggs]

Jay, Maybe you can post the contact and address info for the city officials who have to deal with this issue, take the comments and complaints etc.

This as another sad example of how gentrification is killing off our history of crafstmanship skills.

[JimConlin]

I once had a similar problem in the snooty 'burb where I live. The relevant local bylaw left some room for interpretation. A modest amount of lawyering stalled the process for a good while, during which time my weasel neighbor moved away. This solved the problem.

Perhaps passing the hat for the legal fund?

[Ian McColgin]

I googled up the address and emailed the city manager. Never hurts for the eyes of the world to be upon one.

[Chris Coose]

From the article:
"Holland checked with Newport Beach city staff before he moved Shawnee, who found nothing in city codes that would keep him from keeping the boat next to his home for up to two years, Wood said."

It's all in the zoning.

[SchoonerRat]

I spent a fair amount of time during my college years bothering and helping Dennis on the Pilgrim. His neighbors always seemed nearly as enthused about the project as Dennis was. I had no idea he has another project in the works or that his health is failing. I will make the 20 mile drive south to bother him again, just after I write a letter to Newport Beach in his support.

[Bill Huson]

Might want to enlist the aid of the EAA - Experimental Aircraft Assoc. They build planes - in their garage, or basement. When Fairfax County, VA tried to pass a law banning all sorts of tools and hobby construction/repair activities the EAA showed up with a pack-a-lawyers and slammed the door on that law. Apparently the EAA has money and clout.

[hansp77]

I feel for the guy I really do...
but this thread really needs a little devils advocate-
72 foot is a hell of a lot of boat. It is enough to block out a good portion of the sky for the immediate neighbors- if that was a permanent construction, here, of course, one would need to put in a planning permit, open for objections by those concerned, and for some I suppose they could see this boats presence as approaching permanent. If he is not dealing with the dust (etc)(which he might be, I don't know), I can understand the concerns some of the neighbors might have- I wouldn't want my kids (if I had any) playing downwind of this old boats dust-storm.
No problems up to two years, well, he's had it there three. If it is still too fragile that it will 'crumble' if moved now- then how much longer is it going to take? Will he even finish it? Given the circumstances it is a pretty fair question.

It is a very admirable and grand project and a very brave effort- possibly a bit too grand and a bit too brave. I hope he gets over his cancer, which at the stage it is in sounds unlikely, and I hope he gets to finish his boat and sail it himself, which considering that it sounds very far from done, is far from a certainty.
I am all for supporting the freedom for people to do stuff like this on their properties within suburbia- but for me, a 72 foot boat, overstaying the allowed time by 50% already, with possibly no end in sight, goes pretty deep into a grey area, where black means that maybe it would be more suitable and considerate to take the project elsewhere.

Hopefully he gets some good community support, manages to address the concerns of his immediate neighbors (and the rest of them mind their own bloody business), maybe even gets a bit of free help in finishing the big old thing so he can live long and healthy enough to use it-
I'd love to see him finishing this and sailing off into the sunset... I can however understand that some people feel it should go elsewhere- not all of these need be written off as snooty or anal.

2c.

Good on him, and the best of luck to him.

[Jay Greer]

I have some good news. The City has granted Dennis the right to keep "Shawnee" on his property during the restoration. And, I hear that he is in remission at present!
This boat was built for the owner of the Excide Battery Company some where in the early part of the last century. The interior trim is made of varnished butternut. The raised panel bulkheads are linen fold carved. Setee's are diamond tufted plush. At least that is how it was when I was aboard some fifty years ago.
Jay

[Larks]

Great news Jay, nice to hear there is still some common sense about some city councils. And even better news re his remission!!

[wampum]

This is a nice, common sense solution.

I had the honor of sailing with the late Jim Mertz of NY who still holds the record for the most number of Bermuda Races - 30 from Newport, 8 from Marion. He passed away at 94, just a few months before what would have been his 31st race. No doubt, this annual planning is what kept him going. And I am all the better of a human being for racing with him. Shame these neighbors can't see the forest through the trees and dream themselves.

[Charles Burgess]

Even when you are within the zoning regs and other laws and rules that limit what we can do - some neighbors will go out of their way to fuss about anything you do. Looks like he got a "variance" from the city...good, but that may not stop some of his snooty yuppie neighbors from complaining - it is a right after all. On the other hand, just because you have the right to complain does not make you right - people seem to forget that. Understanding the subtlety defines the difference between genuine genteel civility and yupp-ity - the first is real class, the second it just pretentiousness.

[Jay Greer]

More bad news concerning the resoration of "Shawnee", The City of Newport Beach is now fining the owner, Dennis Holland, $200.00 a day. The fine notices are hand delivered on a daily basis! To date there is an immediate demand by the city forcing Dennis to move the boat to another facility. The problem is that the planking has been removed to facilitate re-framing and the boat is so fragile that moving it now will destroy this vessel. The boat is a link to the past, an icon of the hightest skill of boat building in the past century. The Newport Beach Maritime museum is being contacted with the idea of gaining support from their point of view. I have suggested that the boat be allowed to stay until it can be stabilized and then moved to another location and used as an educational tool for all who would wish to gain knowledge of wooden boat building from a grand master of the art. A petition is being circulated to gain public support for the project.
Jay

[Lew Barrett]

It's a dilemma, isn't it? I know how I would feel if a neighbor hauled a 70 foot schooner into their front yard, parked it there for a few years and started making significant repairs. It would require extreme sensitivity and judicious lubrication to make such an addition to the neighborhood (at least here where I am) be seen as an attraction. I suspect Dennis has fallen afoul of zoning regulations. That's usually not a problem until somebody complains. It is terribly hard to hide a 71 foot boat in plain view.

And I am sympathetic to boat restoration!

[David G]

I wish him the best of luck.

[Jay Greer]

Any positive input from the members of the Forum to the City Manager of Newport Beach CA, David Kiff. Would be greatly appreciated. This project should be turned into an educational project for school children, youth and interested adults. In Japan, Dennis would be revered as a living national art treasure!
http://www.newportbeachca.gov/index.aspx?page=57
Jay

[Ed Harrow]

OH, yes. There were some complaints, but there wasn't, as far as the building inspector was concerned, any violations. Things here only got ugly when Ev (Our Lady's land lady) died and we had to deal with her sociopathic son and grandson. Yuppies tho, can and will ruin most anything.

PS: I just called and left a message at the City Manager's office.

[troutman]

A 71 foot Boat in the front yard? No way. Not on my block. My wife had cancer and I had a bypass. I built a 12 footer in garage. I'm on the neighbors side. This is ridiculous.

[Garret]

It's a dilemma, isn't it? I know how I would feel if a neighbor hauled a 70 foot schooner into their front yard, parked it there for a few years and started making significant repairs. It would require extreme sensitivity and judicious lubrication to make such an addition to the neighborhood (at least here where I am) be seen as an attraction. I suspect Dennis has fallen afoul of zoning regulations. That's usually not a problem until somebody complains. It is terribly hard to hide a 71 foot boat in plain view.

And I am sympathetic to boat restoration!

But, but.....

If there are no zoning regs being broken & the boat was already there when the yuppies moved in, how can he be in trouble? Or is this one of those "I have $ & I'm gonna get my way right or wrong" yuppies?

Sucks

[Garret]

A 71 foot Boat in the front yard? No way. Not on my block. My wife had cancer and I had a bypass. I built a 12 footer in garage. I'm on the neighbors side. This is ridiculous.

It'd be a very different thing if you moved in after the boat - IOW if you bought your house knowing the boat was there.

[Steve Paskey]

I'm really sorry, but I side with the neighbors on this one. The boat has been in his yard for FIVE years, and he hasn't been able to complete even half the work on the restoration.

Put yourself in the shoes of his neighbors ...

Dalia Lugo's bedroom window overlooks the Shawnee's stern and portions of Holland's yard. Holland hauled Shawnee from Newport Harbor, where she had been foundering, to his side yard about five years ago. That was just after Lugo moved into her newly built home.

"We admire his love for what he's doing," she said. "It should just not be in the neighborhood."

Hill agrees: "A boat works construction yard should not be allowed in a residential district."

Here's a news story on the issue: http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dp...,4253781.story

And a photo of the boat ...

[Steve Paskey]

It'd be a very different thing if you moved in after the boat - IOW if you bought your house knowing the boat was there.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened ... His next-door neighbor moved into a newly-built house right BEFORE Holland plopped the boat in his yard, and that was five years ago.

[Garret]

Dalia Lugo's bedroom window overlooks the Shawnee's stern and portions of Holland's yard. Holland hauled Shawnee from Newport Harbor, where she had been foundering, to his side yard about five years ago. That was just after Lugo moved into her newly built home.

Well - that does change things. I must've misread/misunderstood the info in the thread. If the boat came in after the neighbors - they do have right on their side.

My apologies!

[Garret]

Unfortunately, that's not what happened ... His next-door neighbor moved into a newly-built house right BEFORE Holland plopped the boat in his yard, and that was five years ago.

Yup - hope you saw my apology

[Steve Paskey]

I did. And looking back at the original post, it does give the impression that the boat was there first, before a "new breed of yuppies" moved in.

[Garret]

I did. And looking back at the original post, it does give the impression that the boat was there first, before a "new breed of yuppies" moved in.

I shoulda waited a bit before posting, but around here we deal with quite a number of folks buying summer places & then making life hell for folks who live here year-round. Guess I'm overly sensitive. See the same thing in coastal Maine.

I just hope something can be worked out - educational or whatever - so the boat & owner don't end up getting wrecked.

[Jay Greer]

The neighbor of the property that backs up to the stern of "Shawnee" complains that he has to look at the stern of the boat every day. Personally I think that it is a rather shaply stern! I would trust that if Dennis had a swimming pool filled with frolicking bikini clad lovelies, rather than the boat, that that same protester would be hanging on the fence asking to come over and join the party.
Dennis had his boat in place, with city permission, prior to their passing a new law that now bans the same project that they permitted him to begin!
But I must again state that, since Dennis is one of the few remaining master boat builders on the West Coast and that his project should be turned into a positive educational tool that will be of benefit to the City of Newport Beach rather than a source of complaint by those not sympathetic to the historical significance of this vessel.
Many years ago I was involved in a another project to save a historic vessel from being land fill fodder, the 1916 Lawley yawl "Seminole" . What was seen by others as an eye sore and a piece of obsolete trash was taken up by my friend Elizabeth Meyer. Elizabeth saw in the boat what I saw and took on her rebuild. The boat now has a new lease on life and is a joy to sail and see. http://www.yachtseminole.com/
Just like "Seminole", "Shawnee" is a worthy project. To throw the boat away for the sake of not seeing it where it currently is located is in itself a travisty!
Jay

[Ian McColgin]

Jay, has not attorney looked at the by-law change as a "taking" issue?

[Jay Greer]

Yes and Yes, it is an illegal motion on the part of the city. But they are caught up by the complaints and are trying to force the issue any way that they can.
Jay

[Ian McColgin]

Well, it's perhaps one attorney's opinion that the change, at least as it affects Dennis, is "illegal" but that means nothing without some sort of court action. I've been in fights not u nlike this and the town won't blink until something they believe will coerce them to spend real money. Like bearing the full cost and liability of moving the boat v. leaving it there. I'll hope for the best.

[Jay Greer]

I just came from a meeting with Dennis and some of his close supporters. Dennis's description of putting the boat on the property was that he first went to City Hall and gained permission to move "Shawnee" on to his lot. As the boat was put in posistion it was done under the direction of inspectors from the Newport Beach City Building Department. When the boat was posistioned to their satisfaction they gave him a tag of approval. Dennis commented on neighbor's complaints of dust and debris being objectionable. In fact he has and always has maintained his work area and shop nearly as clean as an operating room! There isn't any dust being spread to the winds.
I toured the boat after the meeting and noted that the planking has indeed been removed to a point half way above the broad. Dennis has carefully romoved the planks in such a manner that they can be re-used. The garboard and broad are full length and in perfect condition. They will be replaced after the framing is completed. Many of the double sawn frames are either rotten or broken just above and below the floors. There is no way in hell that the boat can be moved at this time without inflicting terminal damage to the structure. In truth, Dennis is being "waterboarded" by a few neighbors who know nothing about wooden boats and think that the essence of yachting is a wine and cheese trip in a fiberglass electric boat at sunset.
Jay

[orbb]

How much of the "permission" is documented?

[Jay Greer]

According to Dennis, all of it is. For your interest here is Dennis's web site address.
http://saveshawnee.com/dennis-holland/
Jay

[ramillett]

Jay are you going to be in Newport for a while ? I live about 2 blocks from Dennis .

[Jay Greer]

Yes, I will be here for a while. Maybe we can get together for coffee.
Jay

[Jay Greer]

Here is some more info on Dennis's project. If you are interested in helping, contact Dennis through his web site. saveshawnee.com
He can use all the help he can get!
The project has sparked the interest of a film company that would like to make a TV series telling the story of Dennis's life. Who knows, those who lend a hand may end up being paid by Hollywood for helping tell the story.
Jay

[gar37bic]

Hmm. Without getting into the merits, I'd like to add that housemovers have managed to move buildings that are at least as fragile as the boat, even brick houses that have been moved miles with nary a crack in the mortar between the bricks, or the plaster inside. Given enough money, it is technically possible to move the boat. If done properly the boat won't even know it was moved. It may require digging up the yard to get underneath it though!

[Ian McColgin]

Ah, moving is less of a problem than paying for the move.

[Rich Jones]

Ah, moving is less of a problem than paying for the move.

Or the cost of the storage wherever it goes.

[Jay Greer]

Hmm. Without getting into the merits, I'd like to add that housemovers have managed to move buildings that are at least as fragile as the boat, even brick houses that have been moved miles with nary a crack in the mortar between the bricks, or the plaster inside. Given enough money, it is technically possible to move the boat. If done properly the boat won't even know it was moved. It may require digging up the yard to get underneath it though!

Obviously you are new to boat building and the costs and complications of moving a unstable hull. This boat is, presently so fragile with the planking off and nearly every frame at the floors either rotten or broken that I see no way the boat can be moved at this time without doing serious damage to it. In addition it would be an extremely expensive move to attempt. Who would pay for it? The cost of the move would greatly exceed the cost finishing the boat in place The wise answere is to allow the boat to be partialy restored until it is strong enough to be moved. That in itself is the more logical and much less expensive approach.

I might add that I was raised in this town. A town that based it's economy on the marine trades for well over a hundred years. Now new people have arrived and wish to change that with is a well established tradition to suit their own beliefs and perceptions of what is correct.
When I was a kid, it was the norm to see many boats on various lots about town in various stages of construction and repair. During WWII Hundreds of boats were stored both in back and front yards of residents in the area. One owner even had a pool in his front yard that he floated his power boat boat in to keep it tight.

We are not speaking of an entire community that is opposed to Dennis and his boat.
In truth, it is only a single neighbor that moved in after the fact that is objecting to it.
Jay

[john welsford]

I once had a neighbour like that, objected strongly to another neighbours quite legit activities. A group of us got together, did some research and found several quite legal ways of making the guys life a misery. After 3 months of it we all went around to his house with the proposition that if he withdrew his complaint he'd be left alone.
No argument
Done.

John W

Obviously you are new to boat building and the costs and complications of moving a unstable hull. This boat is, presently so fragile with the planking off and nearly every frame at the floors either rotten or broken that I see no way the boat can be moved at this time without doing serious damage to it. In addition it would be an extremely expensive move to attempt. Who would pay for it? The cost of the move would greatly exceed the cost finishing the boat in place The wise answere is to allow the boat to be partialy restored until it is strong enough to be moved. That in itself is the more logical and much less expensive approach.

I might add that I was raised in this town. A town that based it's economy on the marine trades for well over a hundred years. Now new people have arrived and wish to change that with is a well established tradition to suit their own beliefs and perceptions of what is correct.
When I was a kid, it was the norm to see many boats on various lots about town in various stages of construction and repair. During WWII Hundreds of boats were stored both in back and front yards of residents in the area. One owner even had a pool in his front yard that he floated his power boat boat in to keep it tight.

We are not speaking of an entire community that is opposed to Dennis and his boat.
In truth, it is only a single neighbor that moved in after the fact that is objecting to it.
Jay

[Garret]

I once had a neighbour like that, objected strongly to another neighbours quite legit activities. A group of us got together, did some research and found several quite legal ways of making the guys life a misery. After 3 months of it we all went around to his house with the proposition that if he withdrew his complaint he'd be left alone.
No argument
Done.

John W

A guy near where I lived a while back was such a pain in his neighbor's backside that they stole his barn. He left Friday night, came home Sunday night & discovered it gone Monday AM. The gang that took it did such a good job of grading & then seeding the site, the cops wouldn't believe there'd ever been a barn there.

[wizbang 13]

The house in the pic looks alot bigger n the boat.
I wish my neighbor had that boat in his yard, hell, I wish it was in MY yard.
Good Luck to him, though I don't think his illness should play into it.

[orbb]

He needs a lawyer, hopefully one that will help him out at a reduced rate or for free. He needs someone punching back for him.

[Jay Greer]

Yes, he does have a lawyer. Right now we are all getting our heads together for the purpose of planning some options that will allow the outcome to favor the City. This will allow them to take a close look at the past in order to plan for the future.
Ten years ago there was another such opportunity that presented itself in the form of a gentleman known as Woody Woodson. He had a plan to build the Baltimore Clipper "Lynx" here. Mr. Woodson approached the city with the idea of using city property to build the boat. His choice was a City Property that is next to the bay and currently being used for storage of constuction materials. His proposal was to make the construction of "Lynx"
an educational project as well as a branch of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. Unfortunatly there were too many cooks in the soup. Dissapointed by a long delay in making a decision by various powers that be, Mr. Woodson, finally, took his project to the East Coast where the boat was build totaly at his own expense. The boat is magnificent! "Lynx" does visit the harbor here from time to time but, does not represent the City on her many voyages around the world.
In the case of "Shawnee", here is a second chance for both the City and Museum focus on an educational tool that will bring positive nautical interest to Newport Harbor. Tourist dollars would be spent not only at the building site but also with various merchants and restaurateurs . Children that have not known anything but fiberglass boats could be given a chance to experiance a valuable hands on educational adventure under the tutelage of one of the last living master shipwrights on the Pacific Coast.

In Japan such persons are revered as living national art treasures! Isn't time for us all to support such a worthy project?
Jay

[Jay Greer]

The house you see is actually Dennis's barn, a building that was on his property, when he aquired it. Dennis has restored the once drab unpainted structure and turned it into a nice red barn with white trim. In addition to housing his shop, the barn contains his 1909 vintage Buick race car that he has driven in coast to coast races five times.
No, we don't make his illness a point of discussion. However, his doctor says that the restoration of "Shawnee" has given him an unexpected remission. He does take chemotherapy treatments that tend to drain his strength. That is why we are asking for the assistance of any qualified wood workers or aspiring wood workers to come and lend a hand.
Jay

The house in the pic looks alot bigger n the boat.
I wish my neighbor had that boat in his yard, hell, I wish it was in MY yard.
Good Luck to him, though I don't think his illness should play into it.

[ramillett]

Jay Dennis got that barn from the OC fair grounds , and reassembled it on that property . That was another war very cool barn

[troutman]

I knew I was taking a risk being the first to side with the neighbors but ive had the kid three doors up try to turn his dads garage into a body shop. Just had to let his dad know I didn't pay a quarter million to look at his driveway fill up with wrecks and smell the paint fumes. It's a bit*h being the grown up.

[mikefrommontana]

Yeah, but you did the right thing about telling his Dad first--so that the kid gets the idea to hide the wrecks. The fumes are a bigger problem and the kid would be better off finding different digs.