An unsightly property in the middle of a Westmont neighborhood is concerning neighbors about trespassers, illegal drug use in the area and prostitution activity.
Residents say the home, which is near the intersection of West Century Boulevard and Western Avenue, has been a problem for the last four years. What was once an 1,800-square-foot house is now a nuisance that’s attracted trespassers.
“That house will knock you to your knees,” said Pastor Carnell Powell, who lives in the area. “It has been like that. Been empty since 2022 when the previous owner passed away.”
Patrice Weldon, who lives in the community, echoed those sentiments.
“The last four (years) have been a nightmare from hell,” she said. “The police, the 311, came and tore down the curtains and everything, and they go back up. So, there’s people living in there, children living in there. They’ve been squatting in there forever.”
Weldon added that she’s seen young women and an infant coming and going from the abandoned house. She said the trespassers travel in Bentley and Mercedes vehicles.
Since 2022, the neighbors say they’ve reported the issue to City Council President Marquecee Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the LA Department of Building and Safety. However, the problem with trespassers persists.
Powell, who has lived in the neighborhood for 51 for years, said the building inspector confirmed to him there was an order to demolish the property. However, that permit was issued two years ago.
The mayor and council president sent a joint statement saying they’ve called on police to come out and address any potential criminal activity.
“Securing the legal authority against negligent private property owners to address nuisance properties has been a challenge in L.A.,” the statement read. “For decades, and we are looking into additional ways to change City policy and strengthen enforcement tools so public departments have the authority to intervene earlier and move faster to keep our neighborhoods safe. The Board of Building & Safety Commissioners declared this site a nuisance, and LADBS has submitted work orders to clean the site. The City will look into all legal options available to hold the property owner accountable and to cite them for all costs incurred during the clean up.”
“In her proposed budget, Mayor Bass allocated $2 million to address vacant city lots, but it was removed. The Mayor will be calling on the City Council to restore this funding so all properties can be secured and made safe.”
In a call to the property’s owner, the owner told NBCLA that he is “tied up” in court proceedings before he hung up.