Aspen Treehouse Dweller Faces County Lawsuit Over His Nontraditional Home

Pitkin County filed a lawsuit against Matthew Franzen on March 12, alleging land-use and building-code violations for his treehouse residence in Aspen, Colorado. The county asserts that the treehouse, situated 50 feet above ground, is subject to standard building codes and zoning regulations for privately owned properties. Franzen, who has lived in the treehouse for a decade, reportedly believed the land was public and constructed the dwelling as a protest against Aspen's housing affordability crisis, where median listing prices reach $1,295,000. In 2019, Franzen discovered the land belonged to Pyramid Ranch LLC, an entity owned by the Crown family, who also own Aspen Skiing Company. Pyramid Ranch LLC has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit due to its property ownership. Forbes reported the Crown family's estimated net worth at $14.7 billion as of 2024. Supporters of Franzen, including GoFundMe organizer Anne-Sophie Lenoir, highlight his contributions such as reduced wildfire risk, tree protection, soil restoration, and a utility-free lifestyle that has not incurred taxpayer costs. Lenoir described Franzen as a veteran, arborist, and environmental innovator.