WESTLAKE : Hotel Californian Ordered Closed

City inspectors have ordered the owners of the Hotel Californian to shut down the single-room occupancy hotel, citing extensive hazardous conditions brought about in part by a June 25 blaze that caused $90,000 in damage.

The owners on Tuesday were given 48 hours by the city Department of Building and Safety to shut down the building while officials tried to relocate some of the residents. Many of the 60 or so residents of the five-story building were not paying rent, officials said.

The 200-room hotel at 1907 W. 6th St. had been cited for about 20 safety violations by officials from the city’s Housing Slum Task Force. The fire damaged one wing of the building’s top floor and made the hotel unsafe for occupancy, officials said.

Deputy City Atty. Richard Bobb, who heads the slum task force, said the city attorney’s office plans to prosecute the five listed owners of the building for failure to comply with safety codes.

Bobb said no one has taken responsibility for the property or is taking proper care of the building, which is infested with rodents and roaches and has rooms with gaping holes in the ceilings and walls.