Claremont : Complaint Filed Over Wall

The city has filed a complaint in Superior Court against Michael Gray, a rock climber who built a 20-foot practice wall in his back yard, to force dismantling of the controversial structure.

After Gray, 25, began building the wall last May, his Brescia Avenue neighbors complained that it was an eyesore and an invasion of their privacy. In July, the City Council ruled the permit issued to Gray was in error and asked him to remove the unfinished structure within 30 days. It offered to reimburse the cost of the materials, which Gray has put at almost $3,000, and provide city labor to remove the cement that anchors the wall.

Gray’s lawyer, Richard G. Anderson of Upland, said he was shocked by the Nov. 19 filing. “Mr. Gray has been attempting to resolve this matter in an amicable fashion all along,” he said.

Gray said last week that he was “more than happy to take down the wall,” but he said the city owes him compensation for his labor and the wall’s value. He said a builder who specializes in such structures has estimated its value at between $20,000 and $25,000.