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<\/p>\nResidents of a North Hollywood neighborhood breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as city sanitation crews showed up to clean a vacant lot they say has long been overrun by a homeless encampment that attracted crime and drug use.<\/p>\n
Neighbors said the encampment has made it unsafe to walk in the area and they have long complained to the police and the city about drug overdoses, shootings and other alleged crimes at the property. They say people have been known to walk around with firearms in the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, whose district includes North Hollywood, took to Instagram to say that the encampment has been a threat to the area\u2019s residents for years. <\/p>\n
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JJ Azizian waves to a neighbor as workers from the Los Angeles Sanitation Department remove debris from a homeless encampment near his home.<\/p>\n
(David Butow \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been in continuous disrepair and derelict circumstances,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were reported firearms, individuals walking out onto the street with assault rifles, drug paraphernalia that you can even find today, a lot of drug use.\u201d<\/p>\n
The councilman could not immediately be reached for additional comment Thursday. <\/p>\n
The property is along the Tujunga Wash in the 7000 block of Varna Avenue, just north of Saticoy Street. It is surrounded by a chain-link fence and sits across from a row of two-story stucco homes. <\/p>\n
Nazarian and residents said a home once sat on the property, but burned down. Property records show the owners listed the property for sale in June 2023 but that the listing was removed the following month.<\/p>\n
Since then, residents in the area say the lot has deteriorated into a junkyard filled with trash \u2014 including scraps of metal, wood and broken outdoor furniture. There was also a trailer on the property.<\/p>\n
Robert Baindourov, who lives across from the property, told KTLA-TV<\/a> that people have used drugs in front of his home. <\/p>\n \u201cThis property has been used by drug runners to facilitate all kinds of larceny, grand theft auto,\u201d he told the station. \u201cThere have been multiple shootings and overdose deaths. It\u2019s been a constant nuisance, a thorn in my side.\u201d<\/p>\n Large items are removed from a homeless encampment in North Hollywood. <\/p>\n (David Butow \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n![\"Large](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776393069_692_.jpeg\")
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