Ripple executive, Sendi Young, is currently facing opposition from three prominent Harry Potter film stars over her plans to renovate her London home. The dispute centers around Young’s proposed renovation of her 1960s one-story home located in the picturesque London neighborhood of West Hampstead.
According to a report from the Camden New Journal, the neighboring properties belong to Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge), and Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn) – all well-known actors from the beloved Harry Potter film franchise.
These British A-list actors, along with their spouses, have united in opposition to Young’s renovation plans. Their main argument is the house’s intended modern and boxy design, which they find incompatible with the neighborhood’s Victorian aesthetics.
Emma Thompson expressed her views in a letter to the Camden Council, stating that the proposed design would be more suitable for Malibu rather than the historic Conservation Area of West Hampstead. She emphasized the importance of design being appropriate for its surroundings, saying, “This is the wrong design in the wrong place.”
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Imelda Staunton and her husband, Jim Carter, echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the “uncompromising and stark” use of metal cladding. They compared it unfavorably to an industrial estate rather than an Edwardian residential area. Both Thompson and Jim Broadbent also voiced concerns through emails to the Camden Council, suggesting that approving the design would set a dangerous precedent for the neighborhood.
In addition to aesthetic concerns, the actors also raised environmental and safety issues. Staunton claimed that the proposed home would cast shadows and block daylight, potentially harming the wildlife that frequently visits her garden sanctuary. Furthermore, the actors expressed worries regarding the privacy and well-being of female students from a nearby school. They feared that the Youngs’ planned floor-to-ceiling windows could invade the students’ privacy and disrupt their activities on the adjacent cricket field.
Despite the celebrities’ objections, the Youngs appear to be determined to move forward with their renovation plans. Scenario Architecture, the design firm responsible for the project, defended their work and responded to the backlash from local celebrities. They expressed surprise at the conservative attitude of people involved in the creative industry when it comes to design in another field.
This controversy for Sendi Young comes at a time when Ripple has recently scored a win against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In July, a US court ruled in favor of Ripple in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the SEC, stating that selling XRP on exchanges does not constitute an investment contract. The ruling clarified that the “offer and sale of XRP on digital asset exchanges did not amount to offers and sales of investment contracts.”
However, the federal judge also acknowledged that XRP is considered a security when sold to institutional investors, as it met the conditions outlined in the Howey Test.
Overall, the opposition faced by Sendi Young from the Harry Potter film stars highlights the clash between modern and traditional aesthetics in the West Hampstead neighborhood. As the dispute unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Camden Council will respond to the concerns raised by these prominent actors and whether the Youngs will be able to proceed with their renovation plans.
