An extremely dilapidated single-family residence in Duarte has been significantly transformed. The property has been the subject of code enforcement efforts for multiple years. During this period, the City received ongoing complaints from the surrounding community regarding hoarding and sanitation issues, fire and electrical hazards, and several other code violations. The property’s front yard served as an outdoor storage filled with an accumulation of junk, trash, debris, and overgrown vegetation, so much so that certain areas of the property could not be identified.
A Hazardous Escalation
After maintenance of the property was taken over by the adult child of the deceased owners, the property began to deteriorate and often was the subject of calls for service to Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department regarding drug use and domestic violence. City inspections of this property revealed that there were extreme hoarding conditions, an illegal burn pit, storage of inoperable vehicles, illegal construction and other building hazards, fire and electrical hazards, an excessive number of animals kept in cages throughout the property, lack of gas and running hot water, and other code violations. Given these violations, City staff red-tagged the property declaring it unsafe for human habitation. City staff attempted to work with the occupant of the property to abate the code violations. Still, it proved overwhelming given the years of deterioration, illegal construction, and lack of expertise.
Before…
Civica Law’s Solution
After additional attempts to gain voluntary compliance, via a compliance agreement, from the occupant failed, the City was forced to seek immediate appointment of a court receiver. The receiver performed intensive remedial efforts and the property was finally brought into compliance with State and local laws. This renovation was a win for the City and community alike. The property was sold to a new family who plans to maintain it responsibly. The City recouped its costs and fees accumulated over the years of enforcement efforts.
“This case was challenging given many years of City enforcement efforts to gain compliance proved futile. I’m relieved that Civica Law was able to step in and assist the City with removing dangerous and illegal activities from this community and in turn, housing a new family.”
