Bay Area man loses historic compound after decades of building disputes

A Marin County resident has been evicted from his sprawling compound after a more than decadelong legal battle.

David Lee Hoffman, 82, has been living on about 2 acres of land in Lagunitas for more than 53 years. A tea importer, he began building unpermitted structures in the 1970s and ’80s to pursue sustainable living practices and store his teas and other wares.

A tip from a neighbor led the county to discover the many unpermitted buildings — the property, dubbed “The Last Resort,” has at least 36 structures — and order him to tear them down or permit them. The first stop-work order from the county was issued in 1988. Years of back and forth ended in an official court order in 2015, putting the property under receivership…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS