For months, several abandoned lots in Reseda have been an eyesore and nuisance for neighbors who say they see illegal trash dumping, unhoused people and other activities day and night.
A public notice indicates the area has four lots and that a project named La Estancia is being proposed there. The project is a six-story, 190-unit apartment building that’s focused on affordable housing.
Jerry Yeaman, 62, lives on Baird Avenue across from the abandoned lots. Born and raised in Reseda, he says he sees people coming and going, living temporarily inside the homes and buildings that have now been vacant for months.
“I’m hoping they get torn down fast because it’s just a problem,” Yeaman said. “The police have been out three times to kick them out, but they just come right back.”
Another neighbor, who only wished to be identified as Luis, has noticed the same.
“It’s messed up. People coming in here just thinking they could live here,” Luis said.
NBC4 received a viewer tip about the property on Baird Avenue and started looking into what is being done there — much like what the team has been doing over the last week, from a Westmont neighborhood property to a trash-filled lot in Studio City.
NBC4 found zoning information on the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety website going back to last year and permit application clearances conducted as recently as Tuesday.
It’s a quiet residential block that has several other properties with demolition notices. There have been at least three calls to the 311 complaint line in 2026 for trash and debris and excessive vegetation. The address has also had several code enforcement violations over the years.
One notice from the Department of Building and Safety website dated in March 2024 was closed only this May, nearly two years later.
NBC4 asked the council member responsible for the district and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman about the property.
In an emailed statement, her office said, in part, “the pace of permitting and inter-agency clearance has left neighbors dealing with real, ongoing nuisance and safety concerns in the meantime. That is unacceptable, and we’ve pushed LADBS to continue to enforce the code on these properties. This must be done regardless of where the developer is in the permitting process.”
Her office added that it will keep pressing to secure the promised housing is built and any code violations are resolved.
In response to NBC4’s questions about the property, Mayor Karen Bass’ office said, “The Mayor’s Office will connect with residents in the area to address their concerns and city crews will be onsite tomorrow to clear any illegal dumping or debris on the sidewalks.”
NBC4 reached out to the property owner listed for the address — known for building affordable, student rental and other housing in California and other states — about the timeline of the construction and any response to the neighbors concerns but has not yet heard back.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the mayor also said she asked all council members to add a total of $2 million to clean and secure many of these properties across the city — money she had funded before and that the council removed from the budget.