Thread: Jessica Leeds -Trump block our oceanview, say California residents

Past history with Jessica Leeds. Is this the same Jessica Leeds?

Trump block our oceanview, say California residents

BY NANCY DILLON
DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF

Sunday, October 7, 2007, 4:00 AM

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. - Donald Trump is out of his tree, residents of this multimillion-dollar beach community say.

The glitzy New York mogul readily admits he considers some of the sunbleached, 1950s-style bungalows overlooking his world-class Palos Verdes golf course shabby-chic eyesores.

So he planted a monolithic wall of fast-growing ficus trees as a "temporary" screen for a Michael Douglas tournament held in April, and then never took it out.

Well, the trees have begun blocking the priceless - and protected - ocean views of this scrappy town and irate homeowners are fighting back.

They say Trump failed to obtain necessary permits, is violating view ordinances and doesn't care that ficus is a nonnative species that could mess up conservation of their prized beaches.

"He called my house sh--ty," said one incensed homeowner who asked to remain anonymous. "He's not impressed with charm. He likes dripping gold gilt and Roman columns. He thinks we're horrendous for hanging our clean laundry out to dry."

Trump has a different view.

"Sun-bleached is a nice way of saying the house needs a coat of paint," Trump said. "This is the No.1 course in California, and there's an area on the course where the houses are not facing in the right direction, and they don't look so good.

"I've added a tremendous amount of value to the people of Palos Verdes. The houses aren't a native species, either, if you think about it."

Still, the ficus fracas has generated hundreds of angry e-mails at city hall.

"These views are one of the great beauties of America. The trees are impairing views on public hiking and biking trails. That's much more important to the public good than what some golfers consider an ugly house," complained resident Lenee Bilski, 63.

"We can watch the whales go by, the pelicans go fishing, the kite surfers. It's an idyllic life...and now Donald Trump comes along and takes that away," said Jessica Leeds, 62, whose million-dollar property was singled out in Trump paperwork as particularly homely.

Even the mayor has lost patience.

"The golf course is supposed to use drought-tolerant and native plants," Mayor Tom Long said. "My hope is that he'll work with the neighbors so as not to obstruct their views."

A city council hearing is set for Dec. 4.


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...ticle-1.230565