[mywittyname]

It doesn't matter if he's happy about it. The owners of the land are doing what they are legally entitled to. Right to light is repudiated in the US.

If having a garden is a high priority for him, he has several options. He could buy the plot of land from the developer for $1.4MM or he could move to an area more amenable to gardening.

[TomV1971]

In the context of a belittleing “Oh, the horror”, it’s perfectly acceptable to argue that he has he right to not be happy about it.

[myroon5]

It's fine to be unhappy. The distinction is whether or not you use your slight dissatisfaction as reason enough to take away their rights as a property owner.

[badpun]

Interesting, a right to light is actually mandated in my home country (Poland). Here’s a photo of bizzarely shaped hotel because of it: https://t-ec.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max1024x768/172/172445...