After a fire broke out last week at a Studio City home, an abandoned property that has long been a problem for neighboring families, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visited the site with residents and leaders from the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and took action to secure the property.
Bass directed the LADBS to place a lien on the property to recoup city costs and, with the assistance of the city Attorney, to pursue all available legal remedies against the owner of the 4343 N. Babcock nuisance property. Bass is also calling on the LADBS and the city attorney to evaluate securing a court-ordered receiver for all of the owner’s properties that remain a nuisance to the community.
This summer, Bass signed legislation to significantly shorten the nuisance-abatement process and increase penalties for negligent property owners.
“Angelenos should not have to live next to a dangerous property, and they have a right to be frustrated. Irresponsible owners across LA whose properties pose a health and safety risk to … are due for a reality check,” said Bass. “We will pursue all available legal options to hold them accountable. … Securing the legal authority against private property owners to address nuisance properties has been a challenge … for decades. There is a lot more work to be done.
“We are looking into additional ways to change city policy and strengthen enforcement tools so Los Angeles can intervene earlier and move faster,” she added.
On Aug. 27, LADBS issued an order to comply and declared the property a “present, imminent, extreme and immediate hazard.” City contractors have secured the site and are in the process of clearing the property of all debris, trimming overgrown trees, installing a permanent perimeter fence and emptying and then filling the pool with soil and gravel. Contractors were also on site collecting samples to test the structure for asbestos before demolition can begin.
Since the end of last year, the mayor’s office, in partnership with council offices and city departments, has resolved more than 25 nuisance properties, including in Koreatown, West LA, Melrose and downtown LA.