A Saint John man will be visited by city officials Friday in an ongoing dispute over his three-storey, theme-park-style pirate ship in his backyard.

Back in February, Rodney McGrath was ordered to demolish the home-built pirate ship.

Despite the order, McGrath has not yet removed the pirate ship and he claims to be slowly dismantling it.

"I am taking it down bit by bit but here, they're going to have guys come in to take a look at it to see if there is mess into my construction," McGrath said.

Saint John councillors ordered the demolition of McGrath's creations, which he calls the "enchanted kingdom," earlier this year.

City staff first visited the property on Midwood Avenue in 2009 after complaints from McGrath's neighbours. The pirate ship looks into his neighbours' yards.

Several orders have been issued under the dangerous and unsightly conditions bylaw in connection with the home, the pirate ship, and a sculpture of old tires and concrete called Mohawk Mountain.

City engineers determined the five-metre tall ship is unstable and not constructed to meet a building code.

McGrath said he has begun taking down his pirate ship, reusing the already recycled boards to finish a series of additions to his house that happen to be built on a foundation of rubber car tires.

"On this property, we did 504 tires," McGrath said.

The tires are packed with earth and encased in concrete.

All the materials in his renovations are recycled and much of the work is incomplete.

McGrath said he doesn't have the money to finish it more quickly.

Demolition order secured

Time is not on McGrath's side.

Amy Poffenroth, the city's deputy commissioner of building and inspection services, said she has already secured a demolition order for the pirate ship and a nearby mountain sculpture.

"The wood is deteriorated because it is open to the elements," Poffenroth said.

The city is also eyeing the additions to the home.

McGrath said he's not worried, though he has spent some time tidying up building debris on his property.