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Denise Truscello
Ah, domesticity: Holly Madison, Pasquale Rotella and one of Madison’s pooches.
Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 | 2:40 p.m.
Always causing a stir, Holly makes like a mommy in her kitchen.
Holly Madison arrives at the "Rock of Ages" grand opening after-party at the Venetian on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013.
In November, during an interview at her house in a gated community in Southern Highlands, Holly Madison noted that she and her beau, Pasquale Rotella, were in escrow to buy a home in the distinguished, old Vegas neighborhood Rancho Circle.
“It’s the cutest neighborhood, and I love how close it is to downtown. It’s quirky and old,” she said as she ate a bowl of cereal on her kitchen counter. The interview was for a Las Vegas Weekly cover story about Madison published Nov. 29. “We’re selling this house. We thought of renting it, but we’re finished here.”
I asked why she would want to move out of her current home, as it is easily large enough for the baby Madison and Rotella are expecting in a couple of months, along with Madison's three dogs (Louis, Napoleon and Josephine) and two pet ferrets (Sid and Nancy).
“The HOA (homeowners association) here is so bad, I don’t even want to deal with them,” she said, laughing. “They’ve come after me about the dumbest things. Sometimes it's things that don’t even apply to the rules.”
She then pointed to the back yard, at a distinctive structure next to the pool.
“I built this ridiculous, human-sized doghouse behind my house, and when I went over it with my contractor, he consulted the HOA on all their restrictions and whatnot,” she said, referring to a pink house that would be big enough for many dogs or even a family of Hobbits. “He told me it has to match the architecture of the house, so I did that with the roof because people would see the roof. It’s possible you could see the roof from the street, but you can’t see any of it from the street, actually.
“My thought is, if you can’t see anything in my back yard from the street, then who is peeking in my back yard?”
She’s right about that. By rule and common logic, for something to be considered an eyesore, it has to be seen. The color of the house has been a particularly prickly issue.
“They keep fining me for having it painted pink. But the thing about it is I asked the contractor because when I had that thing built, I kind of knew I wasn’t going to stay in this house, and I wanted something I could put on a pallet and take to the next place with me,” she said. “Absolutely, it’s a temporary structure, so it’s not even under their jurisdiction. That would be like harping on someone over their kids’ jungle gym.”
I suggested that the fine could be considered a simply monthly rental payment for the house.
“It’s a hundred dollars a month, or something like that,” she said. “I haven’t been paying it. I just keep sending them nasty letters.”
At the time, the house had been built on a set of pallets. I texted Madison today to see if she still planned to haul the house to her new residence.
Her response: “Yes, I’m going to bring it.”
Call it Casa de Pooches, the city’s most famous home for a trio of lucky dogs.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
This article is worthless without pictures.
Urban life has it's drawbacks, if you want freedom more than convenience move to a rural area.
So the dog's name is Pasquale Rotella, what is the boyfriend's name?
Maybe this is a sign she is an overwhelmed pet owner. Remember the Playboy bunny that wrote about Holly's pets at Hef's mansion? Apparently you could not get up at night and not step in poop due to Holly not cleaning up after her pets. Who wants to live next door to that?
The HOAs here in Las Vegas are a real detracting factor if you wish to sell your home or property. Las Vegas HOAs have truly earned the bad reputation that they now have.
Thankfully, there are still areas that don't have HOAs. Commenter Dale Swanson is right about living in the rural areas, you do enjoy your freedom.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
You can definitely tell the negative impact that HOAs have on property values as well. Rural land especially either far south along blue diamond, or far north above the beltway goes for a whole lot more than urban plots and finished structures that are HOA zoned. Compare a half acre lot that is grated and already connected to utilities in an HOA neighborhood with an option for a custom build, to something out in the raw desert that isn't even grated and you'll find that the rural property goes for much, MUCH more.
You want to live in the city, you either deal with gangs or HOAs. And for the most part street gangs seem to be a whole lot less of a hassle. If a gangbanger breaks into your back yard, they're just trying to get the stuff out of your house. When an HOA rep does it, they're doing it to try and extort you and steal the house itself by legal means through liens. Some creep with a gun, or a bitter old person with a clipboard: Unless you have the courage to knock on your neighbor's door and resolve disputes in a personal manner, you're gonna have to deal with one of these two thugs constantly harassing you.
To all of the HOA bashers I say I have lived in Summerlin for twenty one years and am damn glad to have an HOA to potect my investment from the nit wits of the world. There is far more to Holly's story and her sense of entitlement also comes into play here. Is this brat aware that a lot of old Vegas money is still in Rancho Circle and they could care less about this flash in pan?
First off, Holly's house is surrounded by 5 other homes that may have a view into her backyard. I don't know what kind of pink dog house she built and without pictures it's tough to make a call here...but if you want to start adding pink buildings to your property then move to a more rural area where anything goes. Refrigerators, cars on blocks, barbecue grills on the lawn.
Once again, it's all about me and what I want. Holly doesn't like the rules, so move. Good choice.
Holly should sue!
No, no the HOA. She should sue the psychic who was channeling Liberace when she designed her home for not mentioning the future trouble over the dog house.
Rancho Circle [sigh] - my all-time favorite neighborhood in Las Vegas. In fact, that whole area on Alta was wonderful! I had two fantasy homes I'd pass every day and always wondered the history of both (the architecture of both looked as if they were built in the 60's-early 70's).
<< Is this brat aware that a lot of old Vegas money is still in Rancho Circle and they could care less about this flash in pan?>>
If Holly thought she had a hard time with her old HOA, WAIT until she moves to Rancho Circle!!!
PS Her taste in decor is awful!!! Looks like the inside of a funeral home, circa 1920. If this is what the inside of her house looks like based on that picture accompanying the article, I can imagine why her neighbors complained!! Gosh knows what that pink dog house looked like!!!
<<No, no the HOA. She should sue the psychic who was channeling Liberace when she designed her home for not mentioning the future trouble over the dog house>>
LOLOLOLOL Does she not have HGTV on her cable lineup??? Some of the homes that are in need of renovations look better than what she is living in!!
Could we get a picture of the dog house in question? I'm curious. She should do a show on her home for house hunters....dog house included for certain price.
Ms. Madison fighting the HOA in Rancho Circle is a losing battle. They are old Vegas money and very powerful. Better be careful who you mess with. This isn't Cris Angel.
Don't like the HOA then move - or at least read the CC&R's before you buy. When buying in an HOA each homeowner receives and signs for the CC&R's before they close on their house.
Instead of being fined $100 a month, wouldn't it just be easier to paint the dog house the same color as the home, and then repaint it pink after the move?
@AshleyAshley
House Hunters! LOLOLOL The house should be featured on "Property Brothers" instead - you know, one of the homes that need extensive renovations that the Brothers show to prospective buyers !!
@ homer
Brat? She has an HOA that pesters and harasses her, and yet she's the one with a problem? Not the person that rather than minding their own business has to go out of their way to initiate complaints and fines against her.
@ TomD1228
Why are you snooping around and looking into other people's back yards constantly? Furthermore, why on earth does something that someone else does bother you? Complaining about someone else's backyard sounds like something a sociopath would flip out over. More importantly, you know what? I-15 runs both ways, as do all streets. Perhaps if YOU don't like staring into other people's back yards, you are the one who should pack-up and move to a rural area so that you'll have no neighbors to bother you.
I don't like Holly Madison at all. I think she's just a gold digger that left Hefner when it became apparent that she wasn't gonna get squat from him, and dumped Chris Angel as soon as he started to get poor reviews from his show. But I'm gonna side with her on this.
Tell the HOA to stop it.
We are America and this HOA is stupid, dumb, and idiotic.
they hate dogs
they hate their neighbors
they hate colors -
they have diversity
they hate everything
This HOA is a sick and demented group and should be asked to resign,
HOA Boards carry insurance....
and the insurance is there to pay off irresponsible actions of the HOA board.
This lady should SUE THEM IMMEDIATELY
not just for a few hundred dollars
but for thousands ..
SUE THEM IMMEDIATELY
THEY HAVE INSURANCE AND THIS LADY SHOULD GET PAID BIG TIME FOR BEING A RESPONSIBLE PERSON
THE HOA is un American.
I do beleive something is missing from this story. Where is a picture of this so lovely dog house.
I do support my HOA as owners and investors a like now a days want to do the minimal to maintain a property which is a shame. Where I grew up without HOA's must of been a different time. People always maintained their properties and never did anything to rile the neighborhood by parking an RV on the front lawn or painting something a way off color.
I have neighbors that would remove all their landscaping if they could because they feel 100 sqft of landscaping is to much to maintain. This is what the world has come to and this is why I support my HOA fully.
What happened to the decent common neighbor courtesy of 20 years ago. If that existed today then fine we can do without HOA's but that is not the world we live in today. There is more to property rights when ones property can directly affect the living and value of another neighbors property.