Steve Perez converted his empty swimming pool into a planter. But is it legal?

Steve Perez stands inside his swimming pool, which he has converted into a garden. He is seeking a permit to make the garden allowable under the city’s municipal code. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY – Steve Perez had a perfectly good pool in his backyard, there was just one problem.

No one was using it.

Perez, known as “The Green Gardener” for his prior landscaping and current “worm tea” fertilizer businesses, had an idea.

“I originally had a garden in my front yard, but the city said I could only have a lawn,” said Perez. “So, I tore it out, and I’m thinking, ‘Where do I grow my vegetables,’ because I want to feed my family, I want to grow my own produce and so on.”

“The only place I thought of doing it was my pool.”

Perez’s pool is about 675 square feet, and around 8 ½ feet deep. He estimates it would cost about $60,000 to replace today.

Along with the current lack of use, the pool continues to cost Perez money.

“I couldn’t justify the expense; it consumes a lot of electricity, chemicals, the whole thing, you know,” said Perez.

However, Perez does not wish to completely destroy the pool, and maintains that it’s intended conversion to a planter is only temporary.

“Eventually when the house sells, I don’t want to have to lose that value that the pool gives the house,” said Perez.

Perez says he plans to focus on growing Detroit Red beets, due to their lucrative nature.

“They’re the best beets I think,” said Perez. “Organic Detroit Red beets sell for about $8 a pound. It’s a good commodity.”

With the addition of a hoop house, Perez says he can grow beets “all year round.”

Perez says that the pool conversion is the first of its kind in the city.

“I went down to city hall, to building and safety, to the planning department, and they have never had anybody do this,” said Perez. “They were kind of in awe of the whole thing.”

Perez says that he is waiting to hear back from the city on how to proceed. Still, he feels that everything remains positive.

“The city officials that I spoke to all were open to it,” said Perez. “I think it’s a logical thing to do…I’m converting it into an ecological, practical use for the pool.”