Hidden Secrets Behind HGTV’s Farmhouse Fixer

Jonathan Knight is well-known for renovating historic homes on his HGTV show “Farmhouse Fixer.” However, behind the scenes, he’s been grappling with a lawsuit concerning his own historic farmhouse. As a member of the New Kids on the Block, Knight’s legal troubles began when he was sued by The Trustees of Reservations, a Massachusetts non-profit organization dedicated to preserving historic properties, in 2022.

Knight’s property in Essex falls under the jurisdiction of The Trustees of Reservations, requiring him to comply with their preservation guidelines on land development. The lawsuit stemmed from a prolonged dispute that began when Knight requested to move his house 120 feet from its original location. After his petition was denied, Knight decided to move the house off-property entirely and planned to build a new one. This led to a lengthy and challenging approval process for the new homestead. Knight tried to find a workaround by discussing an alternative solution with his lawyer and The Trustees.

During a meeting, Knight proposed building a barn that could later be converted into a house, arguing that the restrictions mentioned structures but did not specify their uses. He shared with Boston News, “I sat in my kitchen with the Trustees and my lawyer, and we discussed building a barn that would be converted into a house because in the restriction it just talks about structures. It doesn’t talk about their use.”

However, this proposal didn’t resolve the conflict. The Trustees accused Knight of trying to circumvent the preservation restrictions, leading to the lawsuit. “We will not make exceptions that run afoul of our responsibilities to protect land that’s been under our care for nearly half a century,” they stated, according to Boston Magazine.