DC committee votes against Capitol Hill homeowners' treehouse

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City leaders have denied a permit for a treehouse at the center of a neighborhood feud on Capitol Hill.

The controversy is over 20 inches of the treehouse that hovers over a public alley.

The District's Public Space Committee voted against the controversial castle-styled treehouse staying as is. Now, the treehouse's owners have three options.

The city says the couple who owns this treehouse can remove it, they can move it off public space or they have the option to make the treehouse smaller so it doesn't protrude onto public property.

This is the outcome after a months-long battle between the treehouse owners, the District and neighbors in this Capitol Hill neighborhood.

In fact, there is so much tension in this small neighborhood that residents are afraid to show their faces on television in fear of backlash.

"I'm sure this is not over," said one resident. "It's been a tough road, but this is not about a treehouse. This is about policy and it's a zoning matter, and I know that doesn't sound sexy, but it's not about children."

The couple built the treehouse for their three- and five-year-old daughters. They declined to speak with us.

The District says they will send a letter to the couple notifying them on the next steps.