from Brian Hutchinson of the National Post,
Debbie Weiss lives with her partner and four children in Beverly Hills, on a narrow, tranquil street with spectacular views. An art dealer who likes hockey, she claims a soft spot for Canadians. “I think Canadians are nice,” she says. Even Justin Bieber, who rented a house on her street last winter.
There were “no issues at all” with the notorious Biebs, says Weiss.
She can’t say the same of another Canadian, Francesco Aquilini, a wealthy Vancouver-based businessman and developer.
With his two younger brothers, Aquilini manages his family’s vast real estate holdings and a “global conglomerate portfolio” that includes the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. Aquilini is the club’s chairman and a National Hockey League governor....
He also has property in Beverly Hills, a two-acre lot on Loma Linda Drive, right next to Weiss’s home, in fact. After buying the spread for a reported US$7.2-million, he had the 60-year-old, 3,700 square-foot residence pulled down.
Last year, he announced plans to build a 26,000 sq.-ft. house on the property, partially cantilevered over a steep hillside and featuring an indoor basketball court, bowling alley, two bars, two swimming pools and underground parking for 10 cars. And, according to the Beverly Hills Courier newspaper, “moat-like water features protruding over” downslope homes and a pre-school.
Weiss and other residents were appalled. Aquilini’s proposed “megamansion” was too big for the neighbourhood, they agreed.
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