Valleywide : City OKs Fees for ‘Nuisance’ Buildings
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved an ordinance that requires owners of earthquake-damaged buildings that have become a public nuisance to pay the city to board them up or tear them down.
Since the Jan. 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given the city more than $6.5 million to board up, tear down or install fences around damaged buildings.
But because FEMA funding ended July 17, the council, at the suggestion of Councilman Hal Bernson, voted to continue the work but make property owners responsible for the costs.
The city estimates that about 300 severely damaged buildings, most near the Northridge epicenter, still need to be boarded up or demolished.
Friday’s decision makes official a Feb. 7 action by the council asking the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that would impose liens against properties the city must tear down, fence or board up.
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