MOTION-- On the evening of December 13, 2021 a long-vacant property at 2118 Sylvan Street in North Hollywood (part of the old Valley Plaza shopping center), caught fire. Over 100 Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters were required to respond to that fire, at significant risk to their own lives and at great expense to the City. After they courageously extinguished the fire, the remaining unsafe structure was demolished by the LAFD, at significant further expense to the City. The property, and others in Valley Plaza under common ownership, have been vacant and in a state of disrepair for many years. At this location, and at countless similar locations throughout the city, vacant buildings create a blight on surrounding neighborhoods. Particularly when they have not been secured and are vulnerable to entry by squatters and other trespassers, these vacant structures also put nearby buildings at increased risk of fire.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the Council INSTRUCT the City Attorney, in consultation with the Department of Building and Safety and the Fire Department, to prepare an ordinance requiring property owners to install and maintain fire life safety equipment and enhanced security measures at any structure that remains vacant for more than 180 days.
I FURTHER MOVE that the Council INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst to report, in concert with the Department of Building and Safety and the Fire Department, on a proactive vacant structure inspection program that will ensure that vacant structures throughout the city are held to the standards contemplated in the aforementioned ordinance.
I FURTHER MOVE that the Council REQUEST the City Attorney to evaluate and pursue all remedies that may be available to the City (i) to recoup costs associated with the December13, 2021 fire at 2118 Sylvan Street from the property owner, and (ii) to ensure that the property owner maintains the property and surrounding parcels under its ownership in a manner that eliminates blight and preserves public safety.