Sanitation crews clear vacant North Hollywood lot plagued by crime

Residents relieved as city takes action after years of inaction by property owner

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:28pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a discarded syringe or broken glass bottle, capturing the gritty, investigative aesthetic of the cleanup effort in North Hollywood.Sanitation crews work to clear a long-neglected vacant lot in North Hollywood that has become a hub for criminal activity and public health issues.Los Angeles Today

Sanitation crews in hazmat gear have begun cleaning up a long-neglected vacant lot in North Hollywood, Los Angeles that has been the site of shootings, drug use, and fires over the past 15 years. Local residents expressed relief that the city is finally addressing the problem, after the property owner failed to take action despite numerous attempts by the city to get them to clean up the lot.

Why it matters

The vacant lot has become a magnet for criminal activity and public health and safety issues in the North Hollywood neighborhood, negatively impacting the quality of life for local residents. The city's action to clean up the property and hold the owner accountable represents an important step in addressing blight and restoring a sense of safety in the community.

The details

According to Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, the city has made numerous attempts over the past year to get the property owner to clean up the lot on their own, but the owner has not responded. The city has now stepped in to clean up the lot, with sanitation crews in hazmat gear working to clear the site. The property owner will receive the bill for the cleanup, which is expected to take a few days. If the owner does not pay the bill, the city could seize the property.

  • The vacant lot has been the scene of criminal activity and public health issues for the past 15 years.
  • The city started the process of cleaning up the lot about a year ago, after Councilmember Nazarian took office.

The players

Samantha Miranda

A resident in the North Hollywood area who expressed relief that the city is finally addressing the problem with the vacant lot.

Adrin Nazarian

The Los Angeles City Councilmember representing the North Hollywood area, who said the city has made numerous attempts to get the property owner to clean up the lot.

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What they’re saying

“It's finally happening, and we get to feel safe in our neighborhood again.”

— Samantha Miranda, Resident

“We've never heard from them. After numerous attempts and just in the year that I've been in office, a year and four months, we started this process about a year ago. We've never been successful in getting anything back from them.”

— Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles City Councilmember

What’s next

If the property owner does not pay the bill for the cleanup, the city could move to seize the property.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges cities face in addressing blight and criminal activity on private property, and the importance of holding property owners accountable when they fail to maintain their land. The city's action to clean up the lot and potentially seize it if the owner does not pay represents a proactive approach to restoring safety and livability in the North Hollywood neighborhood.