The owner of Delco Steaks has caused a stir in a small Pennsylvania town because of his monster-sized mansion.
In October, entrepreneur Nicholas Reynolds and his wife Alana sent a letter introducing their family to members of the Broomall community in Marple Township, Delaware County.
The couple assured that they would help shovel snow, jump car batteries and even watch children at the bus stop in return for supporting their mammoth project.
‘Please be there for us, we need you!’ the couple wrote in the long letter.
They also explained that they decided to move to Broomall after losing their son Luciano.
But when construction began, city residents were outraged by the size of the “monstrosity” and an apparent invasion of privacy.
‘I want to know how this got to this point? Not only will I not sign his letter I received, but I will also sign the petition against the deviations he is asking for!’ one Reddit user raged.
‘This is right behind my fence and I’ve lost all my privacy! I feel like this has lowered the value of homes in my area because! Absolutely no one wants to live next to or face this monstrosity! Yes, I will be at that meeting and oppose everything he asks for!
Nicholas Reynolds, the owner of Delco Steaks, has caused a stir in the Broomall community in Marple Township, Delaware County because of his monster-sized mansion
Reynolds’ builders had already built much of the 5,000-square-foot site months before he asked for his neighbors’ support, causing even more frustration among the community.
‘My old fence was knocked over twice by their excavator! He even offered to buy me a new fence, which I highly doubt! Selfish of him to place this monstrosity in this neighborhood!! there are areas in Marple Newtown where they have built beautiful homes and just off Highland Avenue there is a whole development going on, he could have moved there!
‘In that letter he certainly paints a picture of the citizen of the month! No one is above the law!!”
Another resident wondered, “It’s kind of weird to use a personal tragedy and associated trauma as emotional reasoning as to why he should have built this house.”
“And the very last part you read here in the comments is him threatening the neighbors with more construction and ‘bad images’ if they don’t support his plan. And if I’m 1000 percent honest: why is this extra money to rebuild suddenly a problem when having five children wasn’t?’
A Redditor who claims to have received the letter revealed, “We received the letter. I haven’t heard a kind word about the way he does business.’
“I feel like he put himself in a situation where he was gambling on a decision… But the bigger issue is (imo), what would stop someone from doing this again? Build property line to property line?
‘Then again and again. I have no personal experience or opinion about the Reynolds family. I hope that a favorable outcome will be reached for all parties.”
According to the Philadelphia researcherReynolds’ builders had already built much of the 5,000-square-foot site months before he asked for his neighbors’ support, causing even more frustration among the community.
The couple assured that they would help shovel snow, jump car batteries and even babysit children at the bus stop in return for supporting their mammoth project.
In October, they sent a letter introducing their family to members of the Broomall community
Reynolds’ builders had already built much of the 5,000-square-foot site months before he asked for his neighbors’ support — leading to even more frustration among the community.
Township attorney John McBlain noted during the first variance hearing in October that Reynolds had deviated from the housing plan they initially approved
Township attorney John McBlain noted during the first variance hearing in October that Reynolds had deviated from the housing plan they initially approved.
He told members the house was “not built in accordance” with the two floor plans that Reynolds’ builders had previously submitted to Marple officials.
Code officials who visited Reynolds’ construction site in July also revealed that the garage’s foundation had been poured “too close to the property line” and found that the structure’s footprint violated several setback codes.
Shortly afterwards, local residents of the township launched a petition against the gigantic building and managed to collect around 100 signatures from 80 households.
As a result, Reynolds’ attorney, the city and neighbors arrived at a preliminary building proposal that would serve as a compromise during a Nov. 20 zoning board hearing.
Under the new plan, the property’s footprint would be reduced by trimming part of the garage and rear porch and planting dividers between its property line and another.
But some residents are being forced to consider other options, such as moving out of Delaware County, out of fear that officials will approve Reynolds’ variances at a Dec. 18 meeting and leave much of the house standing.