Maggie Kunze’s farkled bus is about 3 feet over the line. That is, the property line over which the people next door want to build a privacy fence. And according to Kunze, they want to build the fence so nobody will have to look at her bus anymore.
Maggie's Joy Bus
But Kunze says the bus isn’t going to budge. She says it sits in a driveway the two properties have legally shared since 1924.
Besides, she says, if the owners next door, investors who live in another city, would talk with her, she could suggest several solutions for screening the bus that don’t include fencing her in.
Kunze lives in a 1900 shotgun house whose once generous lot was carved up in the 1920s, leaving her only a 10-foot-wide panhandle of a backyard. The shared driveway doubles the width of that part of her property.
The bus has been there for years, but property owners next door want to hide it now, says Kunze, because they’ve been unsuccessful at selling their property for the past year. They think Kunze’s farkle art may be part of the problem.
Farkling is the process of taking ordinary objects and making them “fun” and “sparkle.” Like this:
Farkled mirror and bust
And like this …
Farkled carport
And like this …
Farkled William Shatner shrine
Kunze’s house on North Washington is farkled inside and out (she’s a must see on your yard art tour…along with North Wood street, but that’s another post).
While many people enjoy her art, Kunze says she understands that farkle isn’t for everybody.
But she’s still not moving the bus.
So, the neighbors started the fence anyway, planting all the fence posts except for the one that would go directly under the bus’ radiator. They might have resorted to towing the bus off the property, but Kunze got a lawyer.
So what happens next?
The fence-building neighbors have turned down mediation. So, everybody goes to court– August 20th.
And, as you might guess, if that fence is ever built, Kunze plans to farkle it.
Farkling manniquin butts
Credit
Big thanks to well-connected Kate Forgach (whose Tattle Tales blog covers all Fort Collins arts doings) for alerting me to this one!
I’ve seen this happen before… Anyone who visits SPAM Town goes whack!
Maggie, you’re our kinda gal! We love artcars and “farkled” things and we think you’re getting a raw deal here. Fight for your rights as an artist and a homeowner. We’re on your team!
-Emily Duffy
ArtCar Fest Director
San Francisco Bay Area
http://www.artcarfest.com
P.S. LOVE your Shatner shrine!
Thanks Cat for your time and research on my property and situation. I think you mentioned to me something about the fact that living in Old Town requires one to have a bit of patience and almost an unwritten code calling for residents to work with neighbors in order to find solutions. Not having to deal with HOA’s and having many diverse people in the neighborhood is why many of us have chosen to live Downtown. I truly hate conflict but I am confident in my decision to not be bullied and to fight for my rights and not let the non-resident owners roll all over me.
Love the people that have posted comments from ArtCar…they seem like my ‘peeps’ for sure!
Keep on doing the great job you do-interesting, fun facts about our little ole Fort-gotta love this city!
Mags,
I think its time to “musically farkle” the bus. I don’t like conflict either, but I suspect since the property owners don’t really know how shy and retiring you are, that they probably expected to just build the fence. A little music from the bus might make it just a bit more “personalized”, and I would be happy to help with an appropriate play list.
Smooches my dear!
Bob
hey mags,
dont you have a grandfathered easement? the bus is a licensed vehicle right? so if the drive has been shared since “24 then I really dont see what they can be thinking.
is their home address listed on the larimer county tax webpage? we can start a letter writing campaign if you want? Do they actually have to show up at court?
love you,
am
I love the bus, and the shrine.
Good luck with the court case…let us know if we can come and support you!
Maria
I love the idea of music! Maybe you could have “Don’t Fence Me In” playing night and day
Really though, your bus is a work of art and I would love to live next door to it (and YOU!). (Sorry, absentee land-owners, I’m not looking for a house right now…but I’m thinking, maybe it’s not Maggie’s farkled bus. Maybe you’ve got it priced too high for the market?)
Hmmm seems to me you have used the land uncontested for how many years…? Doesn’t that qualify you for entitlement to that land via eminent domain go get ‘em
How did the court case turn out?
I just looked up the property listing for the house next door. They even have a picture of Maggie’s bus in their set of photos! (here’s the URL for the photo: http://media.coloproperty.com/PropPhoto/010/381/010381818_640x480.jpg )
The kitchen on this house is GORGEOUS! I don’t know that red is my color, but the curves of the cabinets and overall style is really neat. What I suspect is the drawback for most people is not Maggie’s bus but that really oddball 4 car garage in the back. What’s with that?
Thanks for reminding me to update. The court case was delayed. But on the cool side, the Coloradoan ran the story a couple weeks late (after they saw it in Lost Fort Collins, of course). Then Channel 7 ran it (after they saw it in the Coloradoan, I assume). My guess is that whatever happens will make it to the paper.
Rats! I think I forgot to check off the “notify me of new comments” box. So I’m adding another comment in order to do that. While I’m here, I’ll add the URL for that cool kitchen.
http://media.coloproperty.com/PropPhoto/010/895/010895108_640x480.jpg
… another thought on why the house isn’t selling. I know that when I was looking to move, houses with in-law units were kind of a “stress me out” point. We’d have to convert the in-law to be a normal part of the house, which would be a pain in the rear. And even if someone bought the house with the intention of using that space as is, there’s always the issue of “is it a legal in-law?” (Plus the 3 non-related persons in a house rule.)
… oh, and one more thought on why the house isn’t selling. It’s the economy, stupid!
Way to go Maggie! If it comes to it farkle that fence! I hope though, you can keep the bus where it is.
Maggie,
I would love to do a story on you for CSU’s local news station! Your artwork is fantastic! Please let me know if you are interested. I would love to work with you.
Madison Holland