One New Jersey man's idea of art has some of his neighbors feeling blue.
Jack Zoltak bathes his house on North Haverford Avenue in Margate, New Jersey, in blue every night, using an extensive light display. Some say the lights are making it hard to sleep, in addition to attracting some unwanted attention and traffic.
"Some people could say it looks like a bordello," said neighbor Larry Frankel.
When the sun goes down, the lights come on at the elaborately decorated home, known locally as "The Blue House," but not everyone's a fan.
"I just think it's over the top and a little bit outrageous," Frankel added.
Zoltak has been adding to the display over the past few years, but the home was only recently thrown into the spotlight when some neighbors voiced their displeasure, including at least one who said he's been unable to sell his house because of the spectacle.
Another resident, Robin Levine, added, "Some of the other neighbors can see the lights shining into their homes. It’s been attracting a lot of people.”
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The uptick in traffic creates "an intrusion into the neighborhood," according to neighbor Ralph Meshon. But Zoltak sees it a bit differently.
“I don’t know what they’re complaining about," Zoltak added. “The lights don’t even go anywhere. They’re just on my house. And they’re on timers. They go off at 1:30 a.m.”
Because Margate has no current laws regulating residential lighting, the city can't offer any solution right now. Margate City Commissioner John Amodeo said, "We’re studying other ordinances in other communities that might have been faced with this same scenario to see what the proper thing to do is to help the neighborhood."
Zoltak added that many people tell him they appreciate what he's done, but it's clear that not everyone in town is glowing about his surging creativity.
