North Hollywood Residents Demand Action on Abandoned Lot

Neighbors say vacant property has become a hub for crime and squatters

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:09am

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An extreme close-up photograph of discarded drug paraphernalia, broken glass, and other debris littering the ground of an abandoned lot, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.Abandoned property becomes a magnet for crime and neglect, exposing the challenges facing North Hollywood residents.Los Angeles Today

Residents in North Hollywood's Varna Avenue neighborhood are fed up with an abandoned lot that has been taken over by squatters, leading to mounting trash, violence, and other criminal activity in the area. The property, where a house previously burned down over 10 years ago, has become a nuisance for locals who have reported multiple incidents of drug use, stolen cars, and even a drive-by shooting.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges communities face when private property is left vacant and neglected, allowing it to become a magnet for illegal activity that threatens public safety. The situation underscores the need for better oversight and accountability from property owners, as well as coordinated efforts between residents and local authorities to address neighborhood blight and crime.

The details

According to residents, the abandoned lot on the 7700 block of Varna Avenue has been a problem for over a decade since the original house burned down. The property's new owner is accused of simply abandoning the lot, leading to it being taken over by squatters. Neighbors report seeing homeless individuals using drugs on the property, as well as incidents of stolen cars, overdoses, and even a drive-by shooting.

  • The original house on the lot burned down over 10 years ago.
  • Since the beginning of 2023, there have been 28 calls to authorities about the property, 10 of which were initiated by police officers.

The players

David Abrahamian

A resident of the Varna Avenue neighborhood who has witnessed the issues with the abandoned lot.

Robert Baindourov

Another resident of the Varna Avenue neighborhood who has reported seeing criminal activity associated with the abandoned lot.

Adrin Nazarian

The Los Angeles City Councilmember representing the North Hollywood area, who has pledged to have the lot cleaned up by the end of the week.

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What they’re saying

“We all see homeless people go in the back doing drugs”

— David Abrahamian, Resident

“Multiple shootings, overdose deaths, so I can tell you there's been stolen cars left in front of my house a couple of times. I personally have seen somebody stop a drive-by shooting.”

— Robert Baindourov, Resident

“Since the beginning of 2023 alone, there had been 28 calls for service. Of the 28 were initiated by community members, 10 were initiated by police officers.”

— Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles City Councilmember

What’s next

Councilmember Nazarian has pledged to have the abandoned lot cleaned up by the end of the week, but residents are hoping the city will also take steps to prevent squatters from returning to the property in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge communities face when private property is left vacant and neglected, allowing it to become a hub for criminal activity that threatens public safety. It underscores the need for better oversight and accountability from property owners, as well as coordinated efforts between residents and local authorities to address neighborhood blight and crime.