WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - A man who lives in downtown Wilmington is challenging city leaders on what many would consider to be a trivial issue -- a dispute over his front door.
It could be called the most expensive door in Wilmington, but not because of how much McCutchan Jones spent on the door. Rather, it's because he's getting fined $200 a day over it.
Jones installed the door last year at his house in the historic district, but he came home earlier this week to find a citation posted in his yard.
In the historic area, any changes a homeowner wants to make to his or her home needs to be approved by Wilmington's Historic Preservation Commission.
Jones said he was in contact with the commission before he put up the door, but admits it was never approved.
He said the commission couldn't come to a consensus on the style of his home, which was built in the 1920s, and that he couldn't wait anymore for their recommendation because his old door was unsafe.
Jones says his old door wouldn't close or lock properly. He also said it was on the verge of caving in and he needed to replace it before someone kicked their way into his house.
Jones claims he tried multiple times to contact the commission before making the change.
Now, he owes at least $2,300 in fines.
"It upsets me because I moved to this neighborhood because it's a beautiful neighborhood," said Jones. "I wanted to fix it up…fix the house up...make the neighborhood look nice and it really deserves to be fixed up."
Jones says he will appeal the ruling, but that is costing him, too -- he's hired an attorney, and it costs $500 dollars to appeal.
Janet Seapker, vice chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, says it's very rare for the commission to hand out fines. In fact, she can only recall two appeals.
She said the rules are there for a reason and Jones' door doesn't fit in with the design of the house. Seapker described the process for gaining approval as relatively easy. She said the homeowner in the historic district must apply for a permit.
Then, the commission hears the application and votes on it.
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The new doors on Jones' house.
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