Miami treehouse battle
Shawnee Chasser of Miami is fighting to keep her arboreal house after local authorities declared it unfit for human habitation. The treehouse has running water, television and is also home to her dogs, cats and pet raccoon, Mary J. Blige.
- In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo, Shawnee Chasser holds her pet raccoon, Mary J. Blige, outside of her treehouse in Miami. Miami-Dade County code inspectors discovered the treehouse, declared it unfit for human habitation and ordered it torn down. Now she is fighting to keep her arboreal house, which on its ground floor features a sink with running water, a stove and a refrigerator, a computer and a television. It’s also home to her dogs, cats and raccoon. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
- This Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo shows tropical foliage and a large pond with a waterfall on the property where Shawnee Chasser lives in a treehouse in Miami. The 65-year-old grandmother who protested the Vietnam war and nuclear weapons is fighting county government to keep it. Miami-Dade County code inspectors recently declared that the treehouse is unfit for human habitation and ordered it torn down. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
- This Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo shows part of the treehouse where Shawnee Chasser lives in Miami. Chasser says she hates the oppressive feeling of walls and air conditioning, loves the open breeze and relishes the connection to nature in lush, tropical surroundings. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
- In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo, Shawnee Chasser poses for a photograph in her treehouse in Miami. The 65-year-old grandmother who protested the Vietnam war and nuclear weapons is fighting county government to keep it. Miami-Dade County code inspectors recently declared that the treehouse is unfit for human habitation and ordered it torn down. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
- In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo, Shawnee Chasser stands on the staircase of her treehouse in Miami. Chasser has lived in this treehouse for a decade. Before that, she lived for 15 years in another one on property owned by her brother in nearby Little Haiti after deciding she simply did not like living in air conditioning. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
- This Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 photo shows a street sign reading “Be Here Now St” and “Joshua’s Way” on the property where Shawnee Chasser lives in a treehouse in Miami. The 65-year-old grandmother who protested the Vietnam war and nuclear weapons is fighting county government to keep it. Miami-Dade County code inspectors recently declared that the treehouse is unfit for human habitation and ordered it torn down. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)