A Las Vegas father may have to tear down his special needs daughter’s treehouse after failing to get permission from the homeowners’ association.
Philip Edgar, 59, has built a stunning tree house for his 12-year-old daughter Claire, who has a learning disability as she is often lonely and loves to be outdoors.
The beautiful treehouse has several floors, a hammock, a swing, a slide, and even a small room with glass doors, a post office, and a ceiling fan.
The magnificent structure, located on his $1.7 million Augusta Drive property, is greened with light-colored wood and built around an existing tree.
“We call it a treehouse, but that doesn’t do it justice, it really is a work of art,” Edgar said. 8 news now.
Despite the artistic design, the Las Vegas Country Club Teachers Association does not approve and now the treehouse could be torn down.
Philip Edgar, 59, has built a stunning tree house for his 12-year-old daughter Claire, who has a learning disability as she is often lonely and loves to be outdoors.
The beautiful treehouse has several floors, a hammock, a swing, a slide, and even a small room with glass doors, a post office, and a ceiling fan. The magnificent structure, located on his $1.7 million estate on Augusta Drive, is compliant with the terms of his HOA
“It’s our fault for not following the rules from the beginning and getting all the proper permits before building it,” Edgar admitted. “(But) Claire has a bit of a learning disability, so she’s a bit lonely and spends a lot of time at home and not with her friends, so it’s good for her to play in the garden.”
As for advocating for the family to keep the treehouse, Edgar had the Southern Nevada Arborist Group come visit to see it. In a report, the group said that “features must be preserved and maintained as a benefit to the owner, the community, and the people of the Las Vegas Valley.”
However, the HOA was not in tune with his artistic side and gave the Edgar family two options: tear it down or move it to the ground.
The two-story structure (pictured) will likely have to be torn down. “It’s our fault for not following the rules from the beginning and getting all the proper permits before building it,” Edgar admitted.
The impressive has stairs that lead to the second floor, as well as grab bars on the tree to climb
Claire can be seen enjoying the treehouse in her backyard. “Claire has a bit of a learning disability, so she’s a bit lonely and spends a lot of time at home and not with her friends, so it’s good for her to play in the garden,” Claire’s father said.
Inside the treehouse, there are multiple decorations, including wall art and shelves.
“We’ll probably have to take it down completely or move it to the ground so it’s invisible to the outside world,” Edgar told 8 News Now. She loves it, so it will be a shame.
The father said that if he could do it all over again, he would “try to get all the appropriate permits” but even then thought his daughter’s safe haven “would never have started.”
“You may not get those permits,” he said.
The HOA has not publicly said what rules the Edgar family has violated.
Those who have an HOA must follow the rules and regulations set forth by the real estate developer and may include how certain things appear on the property and what possibilities can be done.
Similar to zoning laws, some properties or areas may restrict what or how a property owner modifies the property.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Las Vegas Country Club Teachers Association for comment.
