Homeowners in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles are sounding the alarm over a deteriorating property on La Jolla Avenue that they say poses serious health and safety risks to nearby families. The house, once a single‑family home, was gutted by a fire two years ago and has since become a yard of junk, vermin and hazardous materials.
Neighbors describe daily threats
Malcolm Ranger‑Murdock, who lives next door with his pregnant wife and young children, told neighbors that when they bought their home they never imagined they would be living beside a “problem property.” He explained that the abandoned structure attracts rats, cockroaches and other vermin that have entered his yard and even his home. “There’s hazardous materials that have never been cleaned up, so I have to limit my children’s time outside,” he said.
Ranger‑Murdock’s family is preparing to welcome their third child, but the windows and balcony of their house will likely stay shut while the surrounding environment remains unsafe.
Attempts to intervene have stalled
Jerry Ferris, a representative of the local neighborhood council, said volunteers have repeatedly offered food, water and assistance to the senior homeowner, who is in his 70s and well known in the community. “We’ve stopped by, give him food, water and try to help him with things, but he rejects it all,” Ferris said. “We wish we could do something. We always feel like our hands are tied.”
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety’s records show 59 code‑enforcement complaints dating back to 2003, most of which were closed as duplicates. The only complaint still listed as under investigation dates to 2010.
City and county agencies say resources are available
Councilmember Katy Yarovslavsky’s office confirmed that the city has made repeated attempts over the years to clean up the property, but the owner has consistently declined assistance. Similarly, Supervisor Lindsay Horvath’s office said the county has offered health and mental‑wellness services, which the homeowner has also refused.
“We have a lot of resources, and we have a lot of neighbors who care,” Ferris added. “We’re just not sure where to put the energy. Is it the laws that need to change? Are people pushing enough for the laws?”
Calls for clearer accountability
Neighbors have asked whether the Department of Building and Safety, the city attorney’s office, or their councilmember should take more decisive action. “Police have come. Fire department has come. Social workers have come, and they continue to allow him to live in the house,” Ranger‑Murdock said. “We’ve asked for help, and they keep passing the buck.”
The owner asked an NBC Los Angeles crew to leave the premises, further limiting public visibility into the situation.
What residents can do
Community members are encouraged to document any new code violations and submit them through the city’s online portal. They can also contact the neighborhood council or the offices of Councilmember Yarovslavsky and Supervisor Horvath to request updates on any forthcoming interventions.
As the Beverly Grove family prepares for a new addition, the broader neighborhood hopes that coordinated action from city and county agencies will finally address the lingering hazards and restore safety to the block.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
