We all love an underdog, don't we? Someone who won't be bullied, who will stand up for themselves and their rights in the face of all-powerful corporations and governments, they give us all hope that we little guys do have the power after all.
Often referred to as 'nail houses' or 'holdouts,' such as these have become high profile media sensations, particularly in China where the brave homeowners receive widespread support against the perceived bullying of the powers that be. Anyone who has seen the movie 'Up,' or Australian classic 'The Castle' will identify with this! These holdout cases most often happen when the government needs land for highway building or decides to do resident relocation of the whole village if the land that it sits on serves a purpose for mining or other heavy industries. Since selling property isn't something that can be forced, some people stand their ground, refusing to take the ridiculously small buy out cash.
Scroll down to see the astonishing examples below, and don't forget to vote for your favorite!
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Edith Macefield Refused To Sell Her Home Even After Being Offered More Than 1 Million Dollars For It. She Later Became The Inspiration For The Movie "Up"
Man, maybe she's lived in there all her life! Maybe that's where she has all her.memories of her beloved ones.. I wouldn't like to think that a precious place like that would turn into a souless building...
Load More Replies...wow. So that is how they got the inspiration for Up... having a elderly person that refused to sell their house although it was going to be taken down by a big company... I wonder if she met a scout and they went on a great adventure to Paradise Falls, meeting a talking down and a giant colored bird in the process..? Good job on this because she loves her house better than the million dollars she was offered.
Mary Cook Had Refused To Sell Her Narrow, Handsome Home While All The Neighboring Homes Were Demolished. Today The House Sits Tightly Squeezed Between Its Giant Neighbors, Looking Much Like An Illustration From A Children’s Story Book
And the curve of the central building makes belive that he's compressed ^^
Good for her. Stuck by her home and most likely a ton of family, generations, memories.👍
My Elderly Mother Doesn't Want To Move, She Is Now Surrounded By New Townhouses In All Directions
Vera Coking First Refused To Sell Her House To Bob Guccione, Who Wanted To Build His Casino Around It. Later She Refused To Sell To Donald Trump
Forget Trump. Anyone who stands up to a corporation who wants, and thinks they can just pay to get it, is a win in my book. Any entity human or legal, that's sole purpose is to gain profit, without regard to the impact or displacement of others, can just go to hell. Don't get me wrong there are some great cases to look at when it comes to property purchases, but the whole system of corporate government of a business has done nothing but erode the sensible compensation of the laborer, exploitation of resources, and an over decline in the stability of those who may be involved, but not sitting on the board of directors. * Incoherent Rant Finished *
Load More Replies...Especially after it went belly-up because of lousy management. Who the hell manages to go bankrupt running a casino? ...Oh yeah, THAT guy.
Load More Replies...I’ve been here.I’m from Jersey my ex-husband had a call in Atlantic City and we drove around a bit.This lady was famous in AC because she really pissed trump off.He didn’t pay his guys and he went bankrupt on all his casinos.We knew he was a jerk close to 40 years ago.
And that Ladies and Gentleman is how you really Make America Great Again.
An Owner That Refused To Sell His House In Melbourne, Australia
Its very saddening that a lot of beautiful neighborhoods are being distroyed to make enormous claustrophobic buildings.
With...what are we up to? 9 billion people in the world and everyone wanting to live in the same cities, it's that or no one can live there but the *vastly* wealthy. Look what's happening in SF and NYC. They're even losing great restaurants by cutting edge new chefs and other cool places to smaller cities because no one can afford to open a restaurant there who isn't already established and making money hand-over-fist. It's build upwards or only the ones who can afford to buy into one of those beautiful old buildings get to live there, which leads to crazy traffic in and out of town with more and more cars on the road with their CO2 emissions because no one who works doing anything other than being a CEO/CFO, and the like can live anywhere near their job. It's sad to see beautiful old buildings disappear, but at the same time, building up is really the only environmentally sound choice for our overcrowded world. It's a hard reality of our overpopulation and our wealth disparity.
Load More Replies...They didn’t refuse to sell. The house heritage protected and couldn’t be demolished so the developers incorporated it into the site. It has been extensively restored. It’s on Kings Way South Melbourne.
This is a not someone’s house it is development around a heritage listed building in South Melbourne. It is incorporated into the building, ugly or not no one was put out it use to be a restaurant.
One question. How the hell they survived the mess of building such buildings around!
excellent question. It must have been a hell of a thing to wake up each day with that construction around you, all day, for months or years!
Load More Replies...This is much worse than the first photo, the Edith Macefield house, which they at least gave her privacy with solid walls around her property. These have balconies looking down on his house. Does he have a backyard that is now being hovered by all these homes and people? They even look like they cantilever over his property.
"Maybe it's just me, but even when I'm alone at home, it feels like somebody's watching me..."
One Resident Of A Toronto Duplex Refused To Sell, So They Cut It In Half
This is on St. Patrick Street in downtown Toronto. Its not "new" exactly, back in 1950 they split this house, the apartment complex now stands on what would have been the other half of the duplex.
Obviously the owners of the house wanted a deck instead of another bedroom.
Load More Replies...It looks like someone eraser half of the house with Paint, and made a collage with another picture!
Haha I was seriously just about to typt the exact same thing.
Load More Replies...This Slender Gothic-Inspired Townhouse, Flanked By Massive Prewar Apartment Buildings Up And Down The Block
I agree. I'd love to see that type of architecture down any street.
Load More Replies...Why have one or two families inhabit a lovely building when you can pile ten families one on top of the other in a giant box?
Looks like something out of an Harry Potter book/movie. I imagine that little building receding, at will.
China’s Government Paved A Highway Around These Stubborn Homeowners. The Residents Eventually Moved Out But The House Had Become A Symbol Of Resistance Against Developers
It's COMMUNIST China,I'm surprised they didn't just throw the owners in jail and forgot about them...weird.
Load More Replies...That highway does not seem to be necessary, there is no traffic on it!
Randal Acker Refused To Sell His Small Queen Anne Victorian Home In Downtown Portland, So They Built A Huge Portland State University Residence Hall Around It
What could possibly go wrong (having college kids living all around)?
I went there (Portland State U) and saw that house all the time. Now I see why... amazing to see this in BoredPanda!
The house is owned by a local lawyer and he waged a fierce legal battle against PSU when it tried to use eminent domain. The lawyer won.
Load More Replies...It's a luxury apartment complex for PSU students, run by a private corporation called American Campus Communities.
Load More Replies...I'm pretty sure the Dockside Saloon on Natio Parkway is a nail house too. It looks ridiculous next to all the new modern architecture.
I still remember when there was no Pearl District and the Dockside was next to the Portland Police horse barn.
Load More Replies...I think the homeless are more of an issue at PSU campus than dorm students... I know of someone who used to live on campus for three months (not at this fancy building but another one across the street) and he moved out after one term because he was tired of being accosted by aggressive panhandlers day in and day out.
Load More Replies...In Guangzhou, The Authorities Have Had To Build A Ring Road Around This Block Of Flats Because Three Families Would Not Budge
These are termed in China as "nail houses", as in stubbon nails. Quite often the people in nail houses are not compensated or undercompensated for the loss of their homes and have nowhere else to go. Be stubbon or lose house, so therefore lose job and starve on the streets.
Really? Everyone I know got millions Chinese yuan or a new house. As a fact my house was taken down by developer before and I got a brand new one. I doubt the reliability of your comment
Load More Replies...I don't really get why they had to make that ring... I mean, even whitout the buildings...
Fly overs are meant to reduce traffic jams. So, maybe that is the reason.
Load More Replies...Maybe the government built the ring highway around the house just to torture the people in the "nail house".
It's lose-lose situation. They get to keep the house but imagine the constant noise and pollution they have to live with. The loop also slows down the traffic.
The House Of Austin Spriggs, Washington D.c. The Owner Was Offered $3 Million, Said No, And Later Sold It For $4 Million
There's a reason they spell it "Pain" on the sign, yes.
Load More Replies...That's right down the street from where I work. Soon as I saw this article I wondered if they were gonna bring up this exact place.
That's right! Say no until they up it to $4 Million because 2 and 3 million is too little!
Good going. " If we cannot wait our actions will have gathered no power."
Seul un village gaulois résiste. ..de tous les peuples de Gaule, les belges sont les plus braves
Although His Is The Only Standing Building In What Used To Be An Old Neighborhood Of Roubaix, In Northern France, Salah Oudjani Refuses To Sell The Coffee House He Has Worked In For The Last 46 Years
I think that picture is from 2011. It's still there but a road runs past and there's a sports complex opposite. I hope that brings Monsieur Oudjani plenty of trade! If you want to take a look on something like Google Maps, the address is 126 Rue de Tourcoing.
I just googled it on maps their a bus stop right next to it and the building has a big blank wall he should get in touch with adverting and sell space get some income to spruce it up and put in a take-out window so people waiting for the bus can buy his coffee and snacks
What a timely little coffee shop, wonder if the coffees good.
It's like an interdimensional space portal. All the customers must be parking in some gigantic underground city.
He seems very isolated! Where do customers park? Capture-5a...6b-png.jpg
I just took another look on Google Earth. There were 2 vehicles parked on the access road; there are shops and houses 1-2 blocks away and he probably gets people calling in when they walk along the canal. :-) temp5-5a12...074da2.jpg
Now A Church, This Queen Anne House Prevented Yet Another Apartment Building From Being Constructed
A Lone Resident Holds Out Against Luxury Villas In Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, In July 2013
Visions of SimCity flying though my head now. Cut and paste hehhehe
Load More Replies...Wonder if anyone actually lives there? I saw a mini-documentary a while back, China builds and builds and builds in order to provide jobs, but no one can actually afford to buy these places.
That house has a lot more land, and the others are quads or semi-detached.
That small house needs some really good landscaping. Just Saying.
Developers Were Forced Into Building Around These Holdouts In Washington DC
Could be, they are museums. Air rights aren’t as crucial for them, and the money would help.
Load More Replies...You're right...I was thinking of these buildings. Thanks for the correction! Seton-5a10...5ba12f.jpg
I never knew that a person's property ends where the roof of their building does. Also, why are these companies "forced" to build like this? No one is "forced" to do anything.
I'd love to live there right next to a museum! Yes, US real estate has air rights https://www.zillow.com/blog/do-you-own-the-air-above-your-home-143915/
They used to live in the country years ago.... now they have city life lol
Living Under A Bridge
Old picture. This is Zurich, where the A3 goes into the A3W (close to exit Brunau). This house is gone already for years.
Word on the street is its residents only listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The Founders Of This Hotel Couldn't Buy These Houses Due To The High Asking Price. So The Hotel Was Built Around The Two Buildings Instead, And They Are Now Souvenir Shops
This is in Amsterdam on Prins Hendrikkade, opposite Centraal Station.
Load More Replies...I actually think it’s looks better with it, than it would without it
There's a Dutch movie based on the story of these houses. It's called 'Publieke werken'.
It's on the Dutch Netflix, not sure about anywhere else. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3765078/
Load More Replies...I work not far from the victoria hotel and drive by it every day on my way to work. I never even noticed these houses!
If you're driving past then it's easy to miss it - there's a dual cycle lane and a wide path and pedestrian crossing between the road you're driving on and the houses. Plus, it's really busy outside Centraal Station as you know - I'm sure you're busier watching the road and not killing tourists :p
Load More Replies...Not true: The owner wouldn't sell, hoping for a higher price. The hotel founders wouldn't do it and simply built the hotel around the man's house.
but did they have gardens or yards how where they able to build on them
One Chinese Family Refused To Move Their Relatives Ancient Graves. The Small, Bizarre Column Stood 10 Meters Above The Foundation Floor For Months, Until They Finally Accepted Compensation
sad that these new 'better' buildings are taking precedence over the ancient graves of our ancestors.
the dead need to make room for the living, its not sad it's life.
Load More Replies...Not in China. Their government do not value their people at all.
Load More Replies...The spirits of their ancestors will come back and haunt the developers who touched their final resting places...
It's awful that they would have to make a decision to move their ancestors somewhere else that may have no meaning to them.
commenters and upvoters just trying to "look empathetic" cause its the hip thing.... LMAO.. its graves, our world is literally built over the graves of "our" ancestors we have forgotten. Get over it. Imagine caring for the dead when you can't even care for yourself.
Farmers Live Stuck In Between Three Highways. Hundreds Of Households Were Relocated But The Government Wasn't Able To Reach A Consensus With This Family
This one reminds me of the Bugs Bunny cartoon where they build the highway around his rabbit hole!
Sometimes it doesn’t pay to stand your ground—especially whn it doesn’t look like very nice ground.
Mrs Wu Ping Was The Only Person From 241 Properties Who Refused To Leave. She Battled With Contractors And Bids For Almost 3 Years Before Caving In April Of 2007 For Quite A Pretty Penny
I believe the word you are looking for is rappel. Repel is something quite different.
Load More Replies...LOL, i love Chinese contractors up ante with these huge digs like, "your move now Mrs. Wu Ping."
Seems like there is more opportunity for individual resistance in China than we are normally led to believe!
Authoritative regimes can’t be all encompassing. So such stories are abundant in the countries like Russia, Kazakhstan or China
Load More Replies...It’s just such a shame that developers are so greedy!! Soon, there will be nothing, but concrete!! !
This Saloon Refused To Sell Their Property To An Apartment Company And Now The Apartment Has To Build Around Them
No, they absolutely shouldn't sell! Especially with all those new potential customers moving in all around them!
Well, the residents won't have to walk far to their neighborhood bar. And if they get drunk enough to have to crawl home, they will at least be able to do so safely.
This is in Charlotte, NC! This place is a staple in our community, and I go in for a drink every time I'm in the area.
This "Nail House" Is Blocking Traffic In Shanghai
Why is "Nail House" in quotes like that???? Am I️ missing something like super obvious?? To be fair I️ spilled coffee all over me this morning and stepped in dog poo so it hasn't really been my day
Moral of the story from this and the previous home in the middle of the road photo..... Road developers in China are a******s.
It was there before the road, therefore, it is not blocking anything!!!!!
They actually opened that road? The house is blocking almost the whole thing!
The Spiegelhalter Family Refused To Sell Their Shop To The Expanding Wickhams Department Store
The shop is an eyesore, imo, and could probably been reopened as a storefront like the ones next to us. However, if the family lived above the shop, that cheap housing for them may have been hard to replace.
Load More Replies...They sold out in the end, but it seems the shop front may remain. I found this BBC article from May 2015, which is *mostly* about this house: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32900601
Ohhhh no wonder there was something odd when I sketch this building for a class assignment
The Entire Rockefeller Plaza Complex Was Moved, Due To These Two Buildings Whose Owners Refused To Sell
The Tenant Of This Apartment Building In Kunming, China, Has To Cross A Moat After The Contractors Dug A Ditch To Force The Last Family Out.
well is china, corruption uses "loopholes" to enforce people out.
Load More Replies...Hey, this happened in the States as well. There was a family, living in the country...apple orchards, everything. They wanted to build a freeway, and his property was in the way. They dug all around his property, and he was encircled by a moat. Couldn’t drive his vehicles across. By the time they hounded him into a heart attack, they gave him pennies on a dollar for his property.
A Nail House Sits In The Middle Of A Road Under Construction In Nanning, China, In April 2015. The Owner Of The House Didn’t Reach An Agreement With The Local Authority About Compensation For The Demolition
Could be air rights. In in the USA you own the air, up to 500ft or so, above your property.
Load More Replies...what were the proposed terms of the compensation that the resident would rather keep living here?!? I have so many questions.
Perhaps just a rebel spirit that refused to give in?
Load More Replies...Apparently the house was removed on May 28th 2015. There's a picture of the road in this article: http://wap.chinadaily.com.cn/2015-06/10/content_20969567.htm
2nd reference to "nail house". what does that mean? Like, nail shop in US?
explained in other posts; "nail houses" refers to "stubborn nails" = Nails hard to remove
Load More Replies...Residents Of The Guangfuli Area Of Shanghai Have Collectively Decided Not To Leave Their Homes, Creating An Entire "Nail Neighborhood." Tao Weiren Sits In Front Of His Two-Story House, Which Is Now Surrounded By High-End Condominium Buildings
What is that on the ground around the houses? It looks like green plastic. Maybe to make it look like grass? I don't know.
Zheng Meiju Outside Her Nail House In Rui’an, Zhejiang Province, In July 2013. She Has Been Living In The Partially Demolished Home For Nearly A Year, Even Though The Water And Electricity Supply Were Cut
I guess it's still better than no house at all
Load More Replies...The Farm In The Middle Of Narita Airport. Farmers Are Refusing To Give Up Their Land In The Middle Of This Airport In Japan. The Runway Is Only Half Usable Because Of Their Refusal To Relocate. They Are Currently A Literal Stones Throw Away From The Flight Path And Must Be Living An Earth Shaking Experience.
Oh wow. Imagine the sounds and vibrations at all hours. Hmm.. I just don't know.
Meh. There are all kinds of low rent neighborhoods that close to airports everywhere.
Hard-Line Developers In China Diverted A River To Encircle Householders Who Refused To Move From Their 900-Year-Old Village
same comment in another from China: THAT IS illegal and criminal, even for China!
Its 900 years old! Why would anyone demolish them? I mean its a miracle they are even still standing!
The village are 900 years old but the house does not. But to be honestly in china almost every villages have thousands of years history. So... Meh...
Load More Replies...According to another report I read it was done by people who had already sold up. I *thought* that sounded like a tall story!
theres a difference "getting f****d over by being under-compensated" and "boomers being afraid of progress"
The 'Million Dollar Corner' That Macy's Had To Build Around, And Then Hide Behind A Billboard
"A Million Dollar Hotel", anyone? With Milla Jovovich, by Wim Wenders movie...
So do they own it know? Why is it hiding it? Do they have the rights now?
Years ago, several businesses were in the same buildings but on different floors. Paul Jones & Co was carved between the 2nd and 3rd floors, and another business was above them with their name on the building also.Macy's probably covered the name so as not to distract from their building.
The Last House In This Area Stands In Front Of A Shopping Mall In Central China's Hunan Province
The Last House Of An Old Neighborhood Stands Alone In A Future Shanghai World Expo 2010 Parking Lot, Under Nanpu Bridge On April 6, 2010, In Shanghai, China. The Holdout Owner Of The House Was Shi Yuji. The House Was Destroyed Days Later, And The Owner Moved Into A Workers' Dormitory
honestly, by judging the outside condition of this house... he didn't look like he was living in much comfort or safety. I would be surprised if that house had running water by the looks of it. I would like to see the conditions of the dorm to know if he is in a safer place or not.
I wonder in what world you live in to have those thought.
Load More Replies...This "Nail House" House Sits On A Mound Above Ground Level Because The Developer Dug Out The Land Around It
I don't, know, looks like it might be interesting living conditions.
Load More Replies...A house in which the owner refuses to sell it for new construction.
Load More Replies...Nail Houses Whose Owners Refused To Relocate, At The Construction Field In Taiyuan, Shanxi Province Of China
A lot of these cities look really grubby and dirty. Like nobody is trying to upkeep them.
They have very little in the way of environmental protection laws so the pollution is phenomenal. That's part of the reason goods made in China are so cheap. Manufacturers can use whatever cheap fuels and toxic paints and other chemicals to make their products, things that manufacturers in the U.S. and many other countries won't allow in an effort to protect the health of their people and the environment.
Load More Replies...Boy, China is really ugly outside of the plastic, overblown, high rises and fake glamour. They sure treat their people like animals. Only the rich...
No, the government treat us well. As you can see in this picture, developer was trying to make a better place, but those nail house owners only wanted to grab this opportunity to make themselves rich, they're selfish, not heroes. Yes, we do have ugly corners, but I'm sure every country does. And you can't deny we also have the bright side, and that's not fake. Welcome to China to have a look.
Load More Replies...On one hand I agree with house owners in fight against the expanding developers. On the other hand, I'd take those few millions offered and built a house in a green space instead of being closed on three sides by scyscrapers. Or being in a middle of a road. I get that some cases involved families with nowwhere to go, but others, just stubbornly refusing I can't understand. I'd rather have peace and confort instead of constant roadtraffic noise/other people staring at me from windows.
Sometime ago there was an airport to be built. Some neighbours refused to move, despite a good compensation. Three month after the airport was open they had to move, and couldn't sell their houses, cause nobody wants to live next to an airport.
Load More Replies...I like this, but I'm wondering how they manage this when they construct around the house, so noisy and disturbing, especially when I saw those house squeezed just in between tose new big tall buildings
I wonder how this is legally possible. Municipalities have plans in how building may be placed, and normally there are also laws. Simply building wall-to-wall is not normally possible, and shading can be a very delicate subject,
Load More Replies...In some countries, the government forces people to sell whatever their property is at the lowest possible price.
If the homeowners knowingly refused to move, then why would consequences be unexpected?
Hey EveBenson, does that EVER work? I mean really? Like does any idiot EVER go to your stupid a*s website after reading your stupid spam and say, "wow, I read what you wrote and golly, I'd love to make that much money! Tell me more swami!" F**k off idiot.
Load More Replies...One thing i noticed, when these things happened in China, the developers did horrible things to the nail houses, ie build moats, destroy the walls on sides, cut water and electricity.. but when it happened in another country like US, the nail houses look protected.. and new buildings were designed to accomodate those nail houses.. says alot about China..
I'm amazed how goverments and coumtries respect there people.... in mine , if they need the land you are kicked out without any consltation..
China is clearly a place where people are offered very little when expected to give up their homes - otherwise why would they end up with so many nail houses? They're probably also expected to relocate to some out-of-the-way apartment block slum far from their employment and everything else they know.
There's a pub in Birkenhead, England that wouldn't sell up to the developers... 72919_9207...a2c4bc.jpg
How do you not mention the original classic film 🎥 ‘BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED’
On one hand I agree with house owners in fight against the expanding developers. On the other hand, I'd take those few millions offered and built a house in a green space instead of being closed on three sides by scyscrapers. Or being in a middle of a road. I get that some cases involved families with nowwhere to go, but others, just stubbornly refusing I can't understand. I'd rather have peace and confort instead of constant roadtraffic noise/other people staring at me from windows.
Sometime ago there was an airport to be built. Some neighbours refused to move, despite a good compensation. Three month after the airport was open they had to move, and couldn't sell their houses, cause nobody wants to live next to an airport.
Load More Replies...I like this, but I'm wondering how they manage this when they construct around the house, so noisy and disturbing, especially when I saw those house squeezed just in between tose new big tall buildings
I wonder how this is legally possible. Municipalities have plans in how building may be placed, and normally there are also laws. Simply building wall-to-wall is not normally possible, and shading can be a very delicate subject,
Load More Replies...In some countries, the government forces people to sell whatever their property is at the lowest possible price.
If the homeowners knowingly refused to move, then why would consequences be unexpected?
Hey EveBenson, does that EVER work? I mean really? Like does any idiot EVER go to your stupid a*s website after reading your stupid spam and say, "wow, I read what you wrote and golly, I'd love to make that much money! Tell me more swami!" F**k off idiot.
Load More Replies...One thing i noticed, when these things happened in China, the developers did horrible things to the nail houses, ie build moats, destroy the walls on sides, cut water and electricity.. but when it happened in another country like US, the nail houses look protected.. and new buildings were designed to accomodate those nail houses.. says alot about China..
I'm amazed how goverments and coumtries respect there people.... in mine , if they need the land you are kicked out without any consltation..
China is clearly a place where people are offered very little when expected to give up their homes - otherwise why would they end up with so many nail houses? They're probably also expected to relocate to some out-of-the-way apartment block slum far from their employment and everything else they know.
There's a pub in Birkenhead, England that wouldn't sell up to the developers... 72919_9207...a2c4bc.jpg
How do you not mention the original classic film 🎥 ‘BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED’
