Several Properties Deemed Public Nuisance Including Palisades Bowl

There are gates that prevent people from going back to their properties in the Palisades Bowl. The property has been declared a public nuisance.

At the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners meeting at 201 North Figueroa on October 8, several properties were deemed a public nuisance, including the Palisades Bowl.

After the January 7 Palisades Fire, residents and business owners were asked to clear the fire debris from their properties. Many residents elected to have the Army Corp of Engineers clean the properties, others used insurance money and private contractors to ensure lots were cleaned.

Owners had been given notice that if the properties were not cleared they would be declared a public nuisance. That would allow the City to start the abatement process (clean up the debris) and bill the owners.

The three-member board, Moises Rosales, Javier Nunez and Nancy Yap, in order to declare a public nuisance, had to answer two questions.

• Has there been evidence presented to prove the site to be a public nuisance?
• Should additional time be allowed?

There were five properties that neither the owner or public comment was offered and included:  lots at 15314 and 15300 Antioch Street (Owner Security Pacific National Bank TR – Lee, Frank Decd Est of et Al.); 556 North Via de la Paz (Owner SP Palisades LLC); 16815 West Bollinger Drive (Owner Robert A. Assil); and 16525 West Sunset Boulevard (Owner Sunset View Apartments Family Partnership).

The Board declared all a public nuisance.

This mansion burned during the Palisades Fire and the debris was declared with a public nuisance.

Next to speak was lawyer Jon Mansfield, who explained that the property at 1601 North San Onofre Drive (Owner South Dakota Trust CO LLC TR Avocado Trust), needed more time. The mansion, designed by Palisadian Ardi Tavangarian and owned by Austin Russell, was featured in Succession Season 4. He purchased the home for $83 million, which was the most expensive property ever purchased in Pacific Palisades, with six bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, a primary suite with its own retinal scanner and a retractable roof.

Mansfield explained more time was needed. He said originally Russell had signed up for the Army Corps of Engineers to clear the property and then opted out because he received incorrect information from his neighbor about what that entailed. When he decided to opt back in, it was too late.

His lawyer said that the cost to clean up is estimated to be between $500,000 and $600,000. Russell had the Fair Plan and the lender is currently holding onto the $3 million. Once the money is released, a contractor is lined up to remove debris.

Resident Steven Bardeck said he lived next to San Onofre Drive. “The site remains toxic,” Bardeck said, and people didn’t want to move back in because of that property. He wanted debris removal to begin immediately and be done by the end of November.

Rosales said, “There’s no debate. It was the owner’s responsibility.” The other two commissioners agreed. The property was declared a public nuisance.

Next on the agenda was the Palisades Bowl, 16321 West Coast Pacific Coast Highway. The owner is listed as Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile States Del LLC.

An attorney for one of the owners Danielle Meyer argued they needed more time, that “We just receive this notice on Friday.

“We disagree that this a public nuisance,” Meyer said and explained that FEMA had come and cleared out all the toxic materials. “The property is fenced off.”

Commissioner Nunez asked, “How does an owner receive a document on Friday – and you’re here today. I don’t believe you.”

Several residents spoke. Vermeu said “the park next door was cleared by FEMA. In our park, when it rains everything runs down to PCH. It’s a real public hazard.”

Jon Brown said “we’ve lived there 10 years. Fifty percent of the park are seniors. The park owners lack empathy. They don’t do anything until legally they are required to.”

Joyce Ho said, “this is a special place. Our property overlooks a cliff, the hillside has been falling down. I worry about things going into the ocean.”

Barry McManus said, “I’ve lived here 30 to 40 years and these people [owners] have never spoken to us. Everything is gone and no one cares. It’s enough already.”

The three commissioners declared the Palisades Bowl a public nuisance.

The last property, 17311 West Castellammare Drive is owned by Jerome Nash. He explained that the 14-unit apartment building had only burned on the third floor. When it rained, asbestos and other toxins had leaked into the rest of the building. “I took everything out of the building,” he said and noted that he had just received a certificate of completion for the 10,000 sq. ft. building.

Nunez said, “This is a little different because the building was partially burned. He’s in motion.”

Rosales asked him, “Time line?”

Nash said, “Definitely should be a month.”

The commissioners voted to declare it a public nuisance, but to give Nash an additional 30 days.

CTN reached out to Building and Safety and asked them for a timeline: when can residents expect areas to be cleared.

Gail Gaddi, director of Community Relations for L.A. Department of Building and Safety was asked about the timeline once a property was declared a public nuisance. She replied on October 10, “Once a property is declared a public nuisance, the owner has the right to abate the nuisance until the Department solicits bids for the work. A timeline has not been established for when the Department will begin to solicit bids.”

“We have received your inquiry but will need more time to finalize a response to you,” said DBS public information officer Gail Gaddi. When CTN receives an answer, the story will be updated.