The Aporia · 82-year-old California tea importer evicted after 53 years at unique compound

TOI World Desk

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For more than half a century, two acres in the hills of Lagunitas became the home, workplace and personal vision of California tea importer David Lee Hoffman. asserted

acres → become → Hoffman

Over the decades, the property evolved into a maze of handmade buildings, caves and other structures, earning the name The Last Resort. asserted

property → evolve → name

Now, after years of legal battles over permits and code enforcement, Hoffman has been forced to leave, reports SFGATE. asserted

SFGATE → force → permits

According to SFGATE, Hoffman, 82, moved onto the Marin County property more than 53 years ago. uncertain

Hoffman → accord → property

Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, he constructed structures that supported his approach to sustainable living and provided storage for his tea business and other belongings. asserted

that → begin → business

The compound eventually grew to at least 36 structures, many of them built without the permits required by the county. asserted

many → grow → county

A neighbor's tip brought the property to the county's attention. asserted

tip → bring → attention

Officials issued the first stop-work order in 1988, beginning a long-running dispute over whether the structures should be removed, legalized or preserved. asserted

structures → issue → dispute

The report adds that the legal process continued for decades and in 2015, a court placed the property under receivership, but the case remained active as attorneys representing Hoffman sought additional time and the county granted extensions. asserted

county → add → extensions

Recognition complicates the picture While the county pursued enforcement, the unusual compound developed a following among architects, neighbors, environmentalists and others fascinated by its unconventional design. asserted

compound → complicate → design

As per SFGATE, Marin County's Architectural Commission recognized the property's architectural significance in 2016. asserted

Commission → recognize → 2016

A year later, a petition supporting Hoffman attracted 7,132 signatures. asserted

petition → support → signatures

The property's historic status received an additional boost in 2024, when The Last Resort was added to the National Register of Historic Places. asserted

Resort → receive → Places

The designation, however, did not resolve the underlying dispute over its unpermitted construction. asserted

designation → resolve → construction

Hoffman has acknowledged that the buildings lacked proper permits but has maintained that they were not unsafe. asserted

they → acknowledge → permits

Enforcement actions and fines did little to prevent continued activity at the property, adds the report. asserted

report → do → property

Ordered to leave The long-running case reached a decisive point when Marin County Superior Court ordered Hoffman to vacate the compound. asserted

Court → order → compound

A court-appointed receiver took control of the property on Sept. 15, according to the county. uncertain

receiver → appoint → county

And now, it remains unclear when the property will be put up for sale. uncertain

property → remain → sale

Hoffman is temporarily staying with friends as he considers what comes next. asserted

what → stay → friends

Friends helped remove the tea and some artwork from the compound, but much of his property remains behind. asserted

much → help → property

Hoffman estimated that as much as 50,000 pounds of tea had been stored inside the hand-built caves, informs the online report. asserted

report → estimate → caves

The legal battle has also come at considerable personal cost. asserted

battle → come → cost

Hoffman estimates he has spent about $1 million on attorney fees over the years. asserted

he → estimate → years

His current attorney is continuing to represent him without payment. asserted

attorney → continue → payment

For now, the future of The Last Resort remains uncertain. asserted

future → remain → Resort

82-year-old California tea importer evicted after 53 years at unique compound

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