Man ordered to remove 4-story tree house

Michael Chapman, 48 -- who built the tree house over the course of three months from more than a ton of pressure-treated lumber, 1,000 feet of rope, about 500 lag screws and 48 feet of rebar -- said the city ordered him to remove the tree house by Nov. 2 and he intends to abide by the order, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

Officials from Worcester's Department of Inspectional Services said they visited the property after receiving complaints from neighbors and determined the tree house violated city ordinances by extending higher than 15 feet and reaching within 5 feet of the property line.

"It came out bigger and more conspicuous than I expected, and I'm saddened by the
controversy," Chapman said. "If I had done it over again, I would have tried to be more detailed in my pre-negotiations with my neighbors. But hindsight is 20-20."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.