1776Reporting
A father who built a whimsical treehouse for his children 24 years ago is now being forced to tear it down after a relentless legal battle with the city of Los Angeles.
Rick Polizzi, a former producer of The Simpsons, crafted the multi-level fort as a tribute to the show he worked on. Over the years, it became more than just a backyard escape—it turned into a beloved neighborhood landmark where local kids gathered to play and explore.
But what was once a source of joy became the center of a bitter dispute after a single complaint from a neighbor triggered legal action. The city argued the structure violated zoning laws and required proper permits.
A Costly Fight for a Childhood Memory
“They said I don’t have the right permit for it, but I’ve been trying to make it legal for years,” Polizzi told KTLA.
Instead of allowing a simple resolution, the city demanded costly modifications to bring the structure up to code. That ignited a seven-year legal battle, draining Polizzi’s finances and patience.
The fight has already cost him $50,000 in legal fees, with no clear path to victory. Frustration has replaced hope.
“It was just so frustrating,” he said. “We went to pre-trial, but we didn’t even get to say anything. It’s exhausting.”
Now, he’s making a heartbreaking decision—he plans to demolish the Sherman Oaks treehouse just to put the legal battle to rest.
A Farewell to the Treehouse
Over the weekend, Polizzi’s family gathered for an informal goodbye to the structure. They knew its days were numbered.
Yet as of Tuesday, it was still standing.
A glimmer of hope emerged when a city council member reached out, offering assistance in possibly saving the treehouse. But Polizzi isn’t optimistic.
“They said the same thing to me last year, and nothing came of it,” he said.
He couldn’t help but point out the irony of fighting for a creative structure in a city that thrives on artistic expression.
“It’s a town built on creativity,” he said. “You’d think they would want to keep something like this around.”
A Haunted Past and a Legal Nightmare
Dubbed the Boney Island treehouse, Polizzi’s creation was inspired by an episode of The Simpsons. He built it in 2000 as part of a larger Halloween-themed attraction for his daughters.
Complete with dancing skeletons and eerie music, the haunted house became a local phenomenon, drawing visitors from across Los Angeles.
But not everyone was thrilled. A neighbor complained that it attracted too much attention—and even accused Polizzi of profiting from the spectacle.
City officials investigated, ultimately finding no evidence of commercial activity. However, they asked a different question: “Do you have a permit for that?”
A Battle With No End in Sight
By 2017, tired of the endless disputes, Polizzi shut down the haunted house portion. He relocated its special effects, puppets, and skeletons to Griffith Park and later to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.
The treehouse, however, remained—along with the fight to keep it.
The city insisted on expensive upgrades to bring the structure up to code. Legal proceedings dragged on, culminating in a court summons in May 2024. Now, after years of fighting, Polizzi has had enough.
The city has yet to publicly comment on the case, but one thing is clear: a father’s labor of love, once a symbol of childhood wonder, is set to disappear under the weight of bureaucracy.
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