HOA Karen Tries to Bulldoze My House—Didn’t Know It’s a Historical Landmark | EntitledPeople Reddit

I should have known moving into an HOA neighborhood was a mistake but when I bought this house I didn't have much Choice it had been in my family for Generations a beautiful historic home that had stood tall for over a century the craftsmanship the details the sheer history in these walls were unmatched by anything built today but none of that mattered to Karen the selfer queen of our HOA who saw my house as nothing more than an eyes sour standing in the way of her precious modern aesthetic from the moment I moved in she made

it clear I wasn't welcome it started with passive aggressive letters stuffed in my mailbox citing obscure and ridiculous violations my porch lights were to Vintage my mailbox was non-compliant my front door color clashed with the neighborhood theme at first I ignored her I had bigger things to worry about than a power tripping Suburban dictator but Karen didn't like being ignored one morning I woke up to find a neon orange violation notice taped to my door mandated structural improvements required uncom compliment property it read followed by an absurd List of Demands the HOA wanted me to

replace my classic wooden windows with Bland plastic ones repaint the house in the neighborhood approved soft taupe and remov the original rot iron fence that had been standing for over a 100 years Define for non- compliance $500 per day until I met their demands I stormed down to the HOA office ready to argue my case this is insane I told Karen who sat smugly behind the desk you can't force me to gut my home just because it doesn't fit your ridiculous Vision she barely glanced up from her paperwork it's all in the guidelines if you

don't comply the HOA has the right to take corrective action that was the moment I realized Karen wasn't just annoying she was dangerous she genuinely believed she had the power to dictate what I could do with my property and I had no doubt she would go to extreme lengths to enforce her will I walked out of that office knowing one thing this wasn't over over the next few weeks the harassment escalated Karen sent landscapers to my property to trim my hedges code for hacking them down to ugly stumps she issued noise complaints anytime I so

much as used my lawnmower then came the anonymous complaints to the city about safety violations on my property I spent countless hours proving my home was structurally sound and up to code then one morning I woke up to something worse a bulldozer parked in front of my house at first I thought it was some kind of mistake but as I stepped outside I saw Karen standing next to a group of men in hard hats clipboard and hand watching like a queen overseeing her subjects good you're up she said smiling we're finally dealing with this safety

hazard my stomach dropped you can't be serious she let out a condescending laugh oh but I am you were given multiple notices to comply with HOA standards and since you refused we taking action this dump is coming down today I couldn't believe what I was hearing this is my house Karen you don't have the authority to demolish it Karen held up a document waving it like a Golden Ticket actually I do according to HOA bylaws if a property is deemed a blight to the community and Remains non-compliant the HOA can remove it I grabbed the

paper from her hand scanning it it was a complete fraud a doctor document that had no legal standing but Karen had the bulldozer the crew and enough arrogance to think she could get away with it I had to act fast I pulled out my phone and started recording you're trespassing on my property and if you so much as touch a single brick of my house I will have you arrested for destruction of private property Karen's smile faltered for the first time you're the one breaking the law this structure is a hazard and we're doing what's

best for the neighborhood I turned my camera to the bulldozer operator you touch this house and you'll be personally liable for damages this is not legal the operator hesitated looking between me and Karen Karen however wasn't about to let her master plan fall apart ignore him he doesn't know the law but I did and Karen had just made the biggest mistake of her life I knew Karen was unhinged but I never thought she'd actually go this far standing in front of my house bulldozer idling just feet away I could feel my heart pounding in my

chest Karen's smug expression made my blood boil but I had to keep my cool she thought she had won that I was just going to roll over and let her erase my family's home from existence she had no idea just how badly she had screwed up the bulldozer operator a Burly man in a neon vest looked from Karen to me uncertainty clear on his face look lady I don't know about this we don't usually do demolitions on occupied homes it's not occupied Karen snapped cutting him off it's an legal structure just do your job I

stepped forward holding up my phone buddy you so much as touch this house and you'll be in court for the rest of your life this is private property and this lunatic has absolutely no legal authority to order a demolition Heron let out an exaggerated laugh her arms crossed like she was watching a pathetic comedy show oh please the HOA has every right to enforce neighborhood compliance we have legal legal precedent I turned my phone toward the bulldozer operator my voice steady and clear I have documented proof that this house is legally protected the city issued

me permits you tear this house down you're not just destroying private property you're committing a felony the operator hesitated then shifted in his seat you got permits I reached into my back pocket pulling out the laminated documents I had been carrying ever since Karen started her campaign of harassment right here and I suggest you take a good look before you end up in a courtroom he took the papers scanning them with furrowed brows Karen was already shaking her head that doesn't matter those are just papers the HOA rules override any City nonsense the operator looked

up at her his expression turning sour hm lady I don't know what kind of Power Trip you're on but I'm not about to bulldoze a house that has active City permits I'm not losing my job over this Karen's face twist Ed in Anger do you know who you're talking to I have connections you think you're going to work in this town again after disobeying my orders the operator snorted lady I don't work for you I work for the company that pays me and I'm not wrecking a house when the owner is standing right here with

legal paperwork aon's smug confidence cracked she turned to the rest of the crew fine if these idiots won't do their jobs I'll do it myself before I could react she grabbed a metal cro crowbar from one of the toolboxes and marched up my front steps rage in her eyes if this house won't come down today then I'll start the job myself the sound of the Crowbar slamming into my front door sent a wave of Fury through me the police needed to get here now I pressed the emergency dial on my phone putting it on speaker

911 what's your emergency yes I need officers dispatched immediately there's a woman actively trying to destroy my home with a construction crew kin turned wide-eyed as if she just realized she had crossed a line she couldn't uncross what you can't call the cops on me I'm the one enforcing the law the only thing you're enforcing is your own Insanity I shot back stepping between her and my house now get off my property before you make things worse for yourself her grip tightened on the Crowbar she was shaking her face an ugly shade of red you

don't get it you're ruining everything this neighborhood was perfect until you came along the sound of sirens in the distance made her Flinch the construction crew exchanged nervous glances and the bulldozzer operator quickly hopped out of his machine wanting no part of what was about to go down moments later a squad car screeched to a stop in front of my house two officers stepped out hands resting on their holsters as they took in the scene one of them a tall non-nonsense guy with a buzz bu cut pointed at Karen ma'am put the Crowbar down Karen

hesitated you don't understand this man is breaking HOA rules he's refusing to comply the officer's expression didn't change ma'am put the Crowbar down and step away from the house Heron's hands trembled but she finally dropped the metal tool with a loud clang her eyes darted between me and the officers her breath coming in quick shallow gasps I was just trying to do what was right for the community the officer glanced at me can you explain what's going on here I gestured at the bulldozzer the abandoned construction crew and the absolute Madness surrounding us this woman

illegally ordered my house to be demolished I have legal documents proving my property is protected she's been harassing me for weeks and today she escalated to destruction of property the officer nodded slowly before turning to Karen ma'am do you have any legal documentation proving your right to enforce this demolition Karen's mouth opened but no words came out she was completely trapped her perfect little scheme crumbling in real time ma'am the officer said pulling out his handcuffs you're under arrest for attempted property destruction and trespassing Karen shrieked no you can't do this I run this neighborhood

he's the criminal not me but it didn't matter the second those cuffs clicked around her her wrists reality finally seemed to set in and the best part the real twist was coming soon Karen had no idea that my house wasn't just legally protected it was a historical landmark and she had just committed a crime that was about to cost her everything Aaron sat in the back of the squad car her face Twisted in shock as if she couldn't process what was happening the neighborhood queen bee the self-proclaimed ruler of the HOA now in handcuffs on

the curb in front of my house but the best part she had no idea just how deep of a hole she dug for herself the officer who had cuffed her turned back to me we'll need to take your statement and collect evidence do you have security footage of the incident I nodded barely able to contain my grin I have multiple cameras everything from her ordering the demolition crew to her attacking my door with a crowbar it's all on tape Heron's eyes widened you were recording me she screeched thrashing in the back seat that's illegal that's

no ma'am it's not the officer cut her off voice calm but firm and from what I'm seeing here you've not only trespassed but attempted felony property damage Karen's face drained of color she stammered trying to come up with another excuse but she had already lost actually officer I said pulling out one final document there's one more thing she should know this house it's not just protected by the city it's an officially registered historical landmark silence Karan blinked rapidly her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air that's that's not possible it's just an

old house nope I said enjoying every second of her meltdown this house has been in my family for generations and it was designated as a landmark 5 years ago you know what that means the officer exhaled sharply it means any attempt to alter or demolish this property without approval is a serious crime eron jerked against the Cuffs no no this is a mistake the HOA has rules the HOA doesn't override federal and state law the officer said dryly and considering you just attempted to destroy a protected Landmark you're looking at much more than a simple

trespassing charge at that moment one of the construction crew members who had been nervously watching from a distance stepped forward uh I just want to say we had no idea she told told us she had legal Authority we don't want to be involved in this the officer nodded you're free to go but we'll need your statements later Karen had gone completely pale her entire plan crumbling in front of her please she whimpered I didn't know I was just trying to make the neighborhood better by illegally demolishing someone's home I raised an eyebrow nice try Karen

the officer shut the squad car door we'll be forwarding everything to the district attorney given the historic iCal status of this property expect some serious charges as the squad car pulled away I turned to see the other neighbors peeking out from their windows and porches some of them looked horrified others clearly entertained and just as I was about to head inside the current HOA president Karen had never actually held the title she just acted like she did walked up to me I just wanted to say she said rubbing her temples we had no idea she

was pulling this she always acted like she ran the place but we never authorized any of this yeah I said glancing at where the squad car had disappeared down the road well it looks like you won't have to deal with her anymore the president sighed honestly thank god with Karen Gan my house stood tall untouched and more protected than ever I stepped onto my porch taking one last look at the chaos she had caused and smiled the neighborhood just got a whole lot quieter