Double click on the image to see a close-up |
YEARS OF CONFLICT 1966: El Paso County denies Starr Kempf a variance to build an auxiliary studio at his Pine Grove Avenue home. Three months later, the board changes its mind. 1978: Starr erects his first lawn sculpture, Charger. July 1994: Starr erects his last monumental sculpture, Sunrise Serenade. April 1995: Starr commits suicide. Lottie Kempf pulls out of plan to deed Starr's property to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. 1998: Lottie begins advertising and giving tours of the property. Neighbors complain. July 1998: Lottie files for a historic designation that would allow her to run a business out of the home. October 1998: Historic Preservation Board rejects Lottie's request. May 1999: Lottie tells the city zoning laws do not apply to her property. Summer 1999: Lottie and neighbors call police 14 times on each other, alleging harassment and disturbances of peace. September 1999: City sues to make Lottie stop operating commercial business from home. March 2000: District court bars Lottie from advertising or giving tours of the home. July 2000: Lottie files $17 million lawsuit in federal court against neighbors, city and district judge. March 2001: City sues Lottie because eight of Starr's statues are too tall or too close to road for a residential area. October 2001: Lottie unilaterally pulls compromise plan on sculptures from table, leading other family members to remove her voting power in family trust. November 2001: Federal judge throws out $17 million lawsuit and orders Lottie to pay neighbors' attorney fees. March 2002: District judge rules four sculptures must come down and four others must be moved back from the road or come down. |
