Santa Ana steps up demolitions to get Bristol Street expansion moving ahead

Santa Ana resident Jose Contreras, 77, had great hopes for the Bristol Street expansion project, believing that the road-widening would spruce up his tough-luck neighborhood.

To make room for two new lanes, the city bought the home next to Contreras’ for $565,000 in August. But when his longtime neighbors left in September and vagrants began slipping through the boarded-up back door, Contreras began to question the way the city was going about the widening.

At night, Contreras’ dog would bark as transients came and went. In the morning, some would knock on his door and ask for water to bathe. His neighbors saw other homeless men urinating in nearby alleys.

“At one point, there were 15 to 20 people coming in and out of that house,” said the handyman, pointing to the boarded-up home on Camile Street.

“I knew they had nowhere to go. But it made me feel uncomfortable having them next door.”

In the last few months, city officials have tried various tactics to disband a roaming village of transients who have taken refuge in some of the 48 houses that have been condemned to make way for the $74-million expansion of one of the city’s main arteries.

Officials have stepped up the demolition schedule, installed additional fencing around the properties and increased police patrols in the half-mile-long area.

“We just didn’t anticipate this on Bristol Street,” said Bruce Dunams, the city’s code enforcement manager.

“We didn’t think there was a significant transient population that would give us a problem. Those houses were perfect for people to get off the streets, get high or do whatever.”

When completed in 2009, the half-mile strip of Bristol will be expanded from four lanes to six. The city has spent $54 million to purchase properties in the path of the expansion.

“Everyone is alert now” to the problem,” said Souri Amirani, deputy city engineer. “After we saw what happened, we began to look for any signs of life in these houses and we tried to get the demolitions quicker. It’s a nuisance for the neighbors, and if they start a fire in these homes, it could be a big liability for the city.”

Amirani said demolition of some buildings has been delayed because they contain asbestos, which requires special permits for removal.

On Wednesday morning, the house next to Contreras’ home was demolished.

“I guess those guys will have to find another place to sleep,” he said. “I’m just glad it’s not next to my house anymore.”

jennifer.delson@latimes.com