Neighbors pitch in to landscape modern Oakwood home

Raleigh, N.C. After months of debate and court rulings, neighbors bonded together on Sunday to help with landscaping atcontroversial modern house in Raleigh's historic Oakwood neighborhood.

My idea was something like a barnraising, and we call it a yard raising," said Madonna Phillips, who organized the event. "We wanted to get all the neighbors together and do something positive where we could see some results immediately."

Marsha Gordon and Louis Cherry were granted necessary permits to build the contemporary house at 516 Euclid St., including a certificate of appropriateness from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission.

Construction on the house irked neighbors, who argued that the house didn't fit with the character of Oakwood, and they filed a complaint over it. That led the city's Board of Adjustment to reverse the certificate, which suspended construction on the home until a judge ruled in favor of the homeowners in September.

"It feels amazing. I mean, the reason we wanted to live in Oakwood is largely because of the community and the incredible people that live here," Gordon said Sunday.

Most neighbors were happy that the court battle over the home is mostly over. A neighbor who lives across from the home has appealed the judge's decision.

"Now they're moving forward," said Robin Vuchnich. "They're gonna be in their lovely home very soon, and I think most of the neighborhood wants to see that happen."

Gordon and Cherry plan to move into their new home by Dec. 1.

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Neighbors pitch in to landscape modern Oakwood home