This is ridiculous.

HAHA! Good one E.

I think that the opposite should happen People should be encouraged to hang out and party near the zit on the hill. The place is an abomination and deserves to be treated as such.

"money = absolution"

Left hand assignment, or logical equality statement? :)

money = absolution in that these people obviously have enough of it that they've been able to have their way with just about everything having to do with constructing this house.

if the overlook closure is voted on and passed, even at the hours requested, i give it a year, max, before the homeowners lobby to have it closed altogether.

I agree, zra, but don't hold your breath.

Anchor, I've hiked around in that area for quite some time, and I'm surprised that some people haven't noticed that that real estate has been in the market for some time.  Nobody wanted to build anywhere around there because of the underlying basalt (so I've heard from gossip), so none of it would change hands, um, since, well, at least 1980 as far as I know.  I used to see weathered "For sale" signs all the time in that region.

Builders were able to stretch lower Hermantown into severe swampland after all.  Don't be surprised if you see a conglomeration of housing up by the "hill zit" 5 years from now.

By the way, Councilor Cuneo's resolution is written to describe the area on Skyline in front of the house, as shown in the photo in the comment above.

HOWEVER:

According to an article in today's Duluth News Tribune, the owners of the home -- Bill Agenter and Karen Martichuski -- actually want night parking eliminated at Skyline's main parking lot, which is a short distance away. 

(This area is commonly referred to as "the Wall," but now that Agenter and Martichuski have built a wall in front of their house, that name is probably confusing.)

Cuneo told the News Tribune he's leaning toward not supporting his own resolution. 

I thought it was outrageous that they wanted parking restrictions in front of their house, but this latest information is just stunning.

It's actually kind of a relief to hear this, because it means there's no way the council will vote for this. (OK, the council did ban skateboarding in Canal Park, so it's capable of some pretty laughable actions, but this one would really be something.)

That house and the wall put up to shield the public from sharing their view are a blight on the city -- a sickening example of conspicuous consumption.

If this resolution passes, let the revolt begin.

157 comments on this story on the DNT website in less than 3 hours.  Many encouraging Skyline Parkway drivers to declare this the new "Honking House" of Duluth?  I'm in.

Back to the critical eye to the DNT, I do wonder how much they edit the comments. I really think that comments on newspaper sites are always banal and actually take away from the lure of real reporting.


Building a HUGE wall is no way to make friends.

I can understand why the homeowners are angry about the vandalism to their property...but maybe before they built the house, they should have considered its surroundings if they were so concerned about traffic/noise/teenagers/looky-loos.  If you don't want cars parking by your mansion, don't build it next to a scenic overlook in one of the most visible parts of town.  Duh.

So maybe some good will ultimately come out of this--judging by the DNT comments, this is really riling people up.  Maybe they'll pay more attention to the zoning crap now, and eyesores like this can be avoided in the future...

Just have to mention this; part of the reason there has been literally no development up on the Wild West Hillside is the fact that the City of Duluth Public Works Dept. has no water access up there.  So, the well-heeled residents of the (what I like to call) 'Land Scar' had enough additional jing to drill through over 800 feet of solid North Shore Volcanic Basalt to access their water.  A well over 800 feet deep.  There will be more...

I have no idea why Tony Cuneo would have sponsored this resolution, but I will take a guess.  The homeowners are his constituents, and maybe he actually knows them.  Perhaps he is just throwing it out there knowing damn well it has no chance of passing.  Especially if he doesn't support it himself.  The thought that these rich idiots could close The Wall is ludicrous.  And I love the idea of making this the honking house.

HONKING HOUSE, HERE I COME, HORN A-BLAZING!!!!! 
You rich a-holes, go find something else to piss away your money on. I love Duluth, I am proud of the unbelievable beauty of this city, and no self-righteous sons-of-so-and-so's are going to ruin it for me and my family. As Duluthians, tourists, or just passersby, we all have a right to pull over at a designated area and enjoy the wonder and beauty of the Duluth skyline. (Hey, could that be why it's called Skyline PARKWAY?) If you don't want people parking by your house, don't build it by a parking lot! Morons.

WOW!  It's unbelievable to me that people can be so selfish.  Whoever thought anyone would build a house there?  It's a boil on the beauiful face of Duluth.  I hope our city council is wise enough not to pass such an ordinance.  Everyone should e-mail council members and let them know how they feel.  I read somewhere that "it's a long way down from the height of arrogance".  Hopefully it's true.

...one of the results of our highly hoped for light rail to the cities is going to be more honking houses...

"Zit" on the hill..........ha,ha,ha perfect description!

Just to clarify, the DNT quotes Cuneo as saying, "I don't have any real issues with councilors putting an idea by a citizen on the table for discussion...We should take requests and concerns from the citizens seriously, whether or not we support them."  Evidently the police contacted him with the homeowners' request for this resolution.

Perfect Duluth Day: a "harsh critic" of that house up on Western Skyline.

That being said. I agree.

I just rode up there to see  THE WALL they built. Mother of God , the freakin' HUBRIS of those people. Sticking a tacky McMansion on the hillside is one thing, but having a commanding view wasn't enough , they had to steal the view of the lake and river valley from the rest of us. That SCENIC parkway has been there over 100 years and I doubt  anyone  has ever gone out of their  way to block the view skyline drive was meant to have, by constructing a fence that serves  no other purpose. Litterbugs throwing trash off Skyline Drive are a nuisance, but building that wall was vandalism on a much larger scale.

I think the huge boulders were put there by the city long ago, to prevent people from driving off the edge, house or no house. 

Incidentally, about a dozen years ago I was walking in that area and noticed a Dodge Dynasty at the bottom of the ravine next to where the Honking House is now. I went down to check it out and noticed a big rock on the gas pedal. I reported it, and it turned out to be a stolen.

I am from the Twin Cities and make frequent trips to Duluth with my family.  My most recent trip included a ride along the Skyline Drive two weekends ago.  I saw the house from the freeway and it looked attractive to me so I decided to meander up 40th Street to see more. The house didn't bother me AT ALL; in fact, what bothered me more was to drive a little further and see the most outstanding view in Duluth violated by beer cans, cigarettes, litter and shady characters.  This was at 3 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon!  I did NOT want my family with small children to get out of the car near that beautiful view because of the "dangerous" feelings we were experiencing. There was a shabby car with teenagers smoking and playing extremely loud music and the whole feel of the lookout was utterly disappointing other than the view.  So we turned around and went back past the glorious house and I had no problem allowing my grandchildren to view the vista from the top of the driveway of the home.  We were amazed by the house and the vista!  I was appalled that Duluth disregarded its jewel of a view only a short way down the road and was suprised that the City of Duluth didn't seem to care for its stunning byway.  You people in Duluth want to encourage a continued use of such a view for a party place for teenagers?  Good grief.  I would much rather see the city work on that area and make it a safer and more appealing place to visit with children.  The house is a plus! In fact, the overlook felt dirty and disgusting and after driving past the beautiful home, one would think there would be a "safe and well kept" overlook for visitors.  It made me think twice about who is in charge of Duluth's pristine views!  Here here to the owners of that beautiful mansion! I hope sometime in the future, the overlook will be maintained properly and given the respect is so deserves. Then, visitors that explore your city can do so without feelings of imminent danger.  They can drive by a stunning home and appreciate a magnificant vista at the same time. Shame on the City of Duluth for being so lax with their greatest commodity.

Molly, you're saying the people you encountered should be rousted by the police ... for what crime exactly? For being teenagers? For smoking? For playing their car radio? 

Many of us in Duluth are concerned with keeping public areas public, and if that means people like you will have to be uncomfortable in the presence of people of a different class, well that's your problem. I'm sad to hear you felt "unsafe," but I'd guess that's because of your sheltered suburban lifestyle, not because of any actual danger.

Leave it to someone from the cities...someone who doesn't have to look at this thing every day...to admonish the rest of us (who live here. year round.) for bemoaning the loss of greenspace and the scarring of an otherwise beautiful uphill view of the hillside.

The city has already seen fit to rout those same teenagers from Canal Park...perhaps you'd prefer them to stay at home when you visit?

new band name = "Molly and the Dangerous Feelings"

Molly, bring a garbage bag next time.   That would set more of an example then being scared of something that doesn't exist.  Mansions don't belong on our skyline, trees do!!

If it was only my view being affected this wouldn't be an issue. Skyline Parkway is a National Scenic Byway and that wall took the scene out of scenic. This is about the quality of life for residents and preserving the best of Duluth for tourists as well. 

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2009/09/30/more-on-skyline-parkway/

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2009/09/27/where-in-duluth-6/

It was an awful reason to not visit that section of the parkway, it is a public place and if we avoided places that were littered we wouldn't walk around our own house.  It was sarcastic.

You know that if you had the money to build an amazing house, you would also want an amazing view. The man who owns that house is a wonderful man. I bought his house that he used to live in and its really sad that everyone is badmouthing him. STOP!
Its one house- so go to another spot on the scenic byway and look. Stop complaining about it.

Foul on Mary for excessive hyphenation.