Via BoingBoing, a permit dispute in my hometown, with several twists. The homeowner who wants to build an addition on her house is the mother of the founding editor of Wired. The neighbors (and others) are opposed, saying the plans would ruin a historical treasure. More here and here and here.
Berkeley is a notoriously difficult place to do building-related things in... on the other hand, there's definitely more to this story than meets the eye, and the remodel seems to be more the son's idea than the mother's, full-page ad in the paper to the contrary. (O.K. Michael, you win!)
