For Leslie Stiles, his backyard was his sanctuary. It was the one place he could go after a long day of work, enjoy his view of Juanita Beach Park and escape civilization for a little while.

“It is an atrocity for the neighborhood,” said Stiles of the luxury Bel Lago condominiums that were built across the street from his home near the base of Goat Hill. “It is one of the biggest blights on a neighborhood I have ever seen.”

Despite neighbors’ objections, King County let the seven-and-a-half story behemoth be built between N.E. Juanita Drive and the shores of Lake Washington in 2006. The building blocks many neighbors’ views and towers over neighboring buildings, including another condo, by at least three-and-a-half stories. Bel Lago is the fourth tallest building in Kirkland in terms of stories.

But neighbors say the unfinished and vacant condo building is an eyesore for the lakeside community to the point that Bel Lago has devalued the neighborhood. And neighbors are questioning what their new leaders at the City of Kirkland can do about the structure.

The building is missing decks, siding, some doors, windows and other things. The most recent addition came earlier this year when someone tagged the building with obscene graffiti.

City of Kirkland Building Services Manager Tom Phillips said that under city code the graffiti would not be allowed within city limits.

“Our property maintenance code pertains to graffiti and the whole site has to comply,” said Phillips on May 20, a few days before a meeting with King County representatives to discuss building issues pertaining to annexation. “Our codes state that they have to remove it in a timely manner.”

Phillips promised to follow up with the county during their meeting and one of the pieces of graffiti, “(expletive) KPD” was covered over the next day. By May 27 all of the graffiti was gone, including a huge piece at the very top of the building. Annexation officially took place on June 1.

“We are doing everything we can to protect the property,” said First Citizens Bank spokesman Frank Smith from his offices in South Carolina. The bank foreclosed on the property in December 2010 and now seeks new owners. “We have put up fencing to secure the property and we have hired a contractor to paint over the graffiti.”

The land and a single-family home were sold in 2002 by a private trust for $1.4 million to Juanita Point LLC, according to King County tax records. It was then sold again in 2005 for $2.6 million to Eisenhower and Carlson PLLC and permits for the building were approved that same year.

The land rests right on the old border of unincorporated King County and the City of Kirkland. Bel Lago would not have been allowed within city limits under the city’s Shoreline Master Plan.

Stiles said there were about four public meetings about the proposed construction, but the meetings were not publicized.

“I am boggled, perplexed and wonderstruck that this was allowed,” said Stiles, who pointed out that the building rests about 15 feet from the side of the road with a fire hydrant included in that space. “There is barely any room for a sidewalk … The whole thing is just a sign of the times.”

Many of the residents are upset because the building has devalued their property and wonder why the county allowed the building. Some even question how the permitting was allowed for a seven-and-a-half story building when the next tallest building is four stories.

“This thing was built piecemeal,” said Dr. Thomas Gant, who lives just up the hill from Stiles. “It wasn’t like other buildings where the frame goes up and then everything else. When I first noticed the building it was five stories and then all of a sudden it was seven stories.”

The county appraised the building and land for $5.1 million in 2010.

Signage on the property just prior to the graffiti being removed stated that the 18 individual condos were for sale. The cheapest at the ground floor was priced at $695,950 for two beds and two baths, while the top floor was priced at nearly $3 million for a three bedroom, three-and-half bath.

Smith said that First Citizens is not looking to complete the building, but sell it to a new owner. But a new owner may run into some issues as the building permits for the structure have expired with the county and will have to be renewed through the City of Kirkland.

But the fact remains that the building is there and there is no motivation by First Citizens to have it taken down.

The building’s height and setbacks have been grandfathered into the city, but there is nothing that binds the city to re-permitting the property.

“I think it is in the city’s best interest to let it be finished,” said City of Kirkland Planning and Community Development Supervisor Jeremy McMahan.

Neighbors say that if there are public meetings for the permitting, or the construction of any new building the same size in the neighborhood, residents will attend to voice their concerns.

“I doubt the city would be persuaded when you look at the tax revenue this thing will bring in compared to a few upset neighbors,” said Stiles. “But I would be at the meeting.”

Bel Lago also represents something even more disturbing for many residents with views on Goat Hill.

“I am worried about this setting a precedent,” said Gant. “It doesn’t affect my view, but the way it sits it is an eyesore.”

And Gant has taken notice of the house directly next to the Bel Lago condominiums that has been for sale for nearly two years.

“I have heard that they want to develop that piece of land too,” said Gant.

Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett said that a building built in King County and then annexed into the city cannot set precedent for new buildings.

“Ultimately it would be up to the city council and planning commission if a developer wanted to challenge the codes,” said McMahan. “But it is not precedent setting from that standpoint.”