Battle over siding: A message to neighbors

Image 1 of 14

A homeowner in Atlanta's Cabbagetown neighborhood lashed out at her neighbors in a very public way.

Elizabeth Zappa says she got approval for all her renovation plans, but the project manager made a mistake when it came to the siding. Crews put up HardiePlank instead of wood siding.

"He didn't see in the plan that we agreed to wood siding. I have to admit we stood there and watched, and we didn't catch the error. We were so excited about how the house looked," says Zappa.

But neighbors did catch the error and reported it to the city. The building inspector taped up a violation notice, and work on the outside of the home was stopped. Zappa says she took out her frustration by painting a message is big bold letters on the side of her house.

It reads: "DEAR CABBAGETOWN: ON 8/5. THE U.D.C. IS SET TO ORDER US TO STRIP THIS SIDING AND REPLACE IT WITH WOOD. BECAUSE YOU FILED A COMPLAINT, YOUR REPUTATION AS A BOOGIE BUSY-BODY FOLK FULL OF YOUR OWN SELF-IMPORTANCE STANDS. SCORE FOR THE 'NEED TO BE RIGHT' TEAM! FEELING BETTER? LMAO!"

FOX 5 News talked to several neighbors who say she should have corrected the mistake right away.

"We live in an historic neighborhood that doesn't allow HardiePlank. You should know that if you move in here and read our regulations," says Dan Thompson. 

Erich Nunn says "Cabbagetown is a national historic district and there are historic preservation regulations all houses in the neighborhood are subject to."

Other neighbors say they're just happy someone is fixing up the old rundown house that used to be on the corner.

"It was an eyesore. There were boards all over the windows and I'm really glad neighbors are fixing it up. I couldn't care if it's wood or HardiePlank," says Brittany Williams.

Zappa says she has filed a variance with the city. She is also circulating a petition hoping to be able to keep the HardiePlank.