What residents in Studio City once considered a nuisance property is now almost unrecognizable after the abandoned property was cleaned up, much to the relief of neighbors who’ve voiced frustrations about it for years.
Community members said they repeatedly complained about the abandoned home near Moorpark Street and Babcock Avenue. According to them, it attracted squatters and was used as a site for illegal drug use. The nuisance property even became a focal point between Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is also running for mayor.
With the site cleaned up, however, neighbors are hoping it will keep disruptive behavior out of their community.
“This is a huge accomplishment. It took a village, in a sense,” Adriana Serrano, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, said.
A fire that burned on the property three weeks ago brought renewed attention to the troubled site, which prompted a visit from Bass.
“This is a problem in the city, and we have a lot of properties in the city that have been abandoned,” the mayor said.
The nuisance became a political flashpoint between Bass and Raman, who represents the district.
An abandoned property has left neighbors in Studio City frustrated. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 3 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2026.
“I sent it to the pathway she identified for her office to resolve these issues and even then, it wasn’t resolved,” Raman said.
The back and forth gave frustrated neighbors a chance to voice years of concerns about how their complaints have been handled. But now, a different tone has been struck as this community finally sees tangible results.
“Amazing transformation and it’s an example of how things can happen when departments in the city help each other and make things happen with her coordinating,” said Mary Mazedjian, who lives in the community.
The lot has been cleared of fire damage and debris, and a higher fence was installed as an effort to keep people from setting up camp again.