SAN FERNANDO : Owner Appeals Call for Home Demolition

The owner of a deteriorating, vacant house on Alexander Street has appealed a city of San Fernando decision declaring the property a public nuisance, delaying demolition of a building described by neighbors as an eyesore and a magnet for vagrants.

The Planning Commission issued a report to the City Council on April 4 stating that the property at 454 Alexander St. is structurally deficient and recommending that it be torn down. On that recommendation, the City Council declared the property a public nuisance, which ordinarily results in demolition unless the owner appeals or agrees to repair the property.

City officials cited seven calls to the Police Department since January, 1994, requiring responses to the property for burglary, vandalism and trespassing, and residents complained of a dead cat rotting in the weeds in the yard.

Officials said the cat carcass was removed this week.

The owner, identified by city officials as John Flint Burckart, was notified that the building was unsafe after last year’s Northridge earthquake and was informed of city-sponsored loans that could be used to renovate or rebuild, city officials said.

In addition, Burckart was notified of possible government reimbursement if he agreed to allow the building to be demolished, said Sarah Magana-Withers, the city’s community preservation officer. But Burckart told city officials he was unsure of his plans for the property, and threatened to sue if not given adequate time to develop alternatives to demolition. He appealed the Planning Commission’s decision but did not attend the public hearing Monday on the status of his property.

“It’s a mess,” Councilman Ray Ojeda said. “Let’s do what we have to do to get it cleaned up.”

City Atty. C. Edward Dilkes told the council that “there’s more than enough evidence to justify an order . . . to demolish.”

“We’ve generally been very successful in bringing the majority of properties into compliance” since the earthquake, Magana-Withers said, noting that the city identified about 100 properties that qualified for federal reimbursement for demolition due to quake damage.

If Burckart decides to rebuild, renovate or demolish the property, he must submit plans to the city and obtain permits within 15 days of the appeal hearing, officials said. If he does not take action, the city will place a lien on the property, officials said.