An abandoned mansion with scenic views in the Hollywood Hills has turned into a four-story eyesore taken over by taggers and squatters.
Neighbors told NBCLA the house has been vacant for about a decade, but squatters started moving in over a year ago. In the last week, fresh graffiti appeared on the mansion, despite walls and fencing placed around the property designed to keep people out.
Records show John Powers Middleton bought the mansion in 2012. Then in October 2022, after it was declared a nuisance, LA’s Department of Building and Safety said Middleton must build a fence and secure the property.
When he didn’t, the city had to build the fence itself.
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Video from NewsChopper4 showed the hillside mansion at 7571 Mulholland Drive covered with graffiti in what City Councilmember Nithya Raman's office described as a "public safety issue with serious consequences for both neighbors and the surrounding community." In a statement to NBCLA, Raman's office said Friday that she has been in contact with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of Building and Safety about the residence.
"This owner is in egregious violation of the law and we are elevating the issue with the abandoned buildings unit at the Department of Building and Safety to ensure that the fullest extent of enforcement is being implemented urgently and swiftly," Raman's office said in the statement.
An abatement order was previously issued by the building and safety department, but Raman's office said it was ignored by the property owner. The agency attempted to secure the property with fencing, but that "security measure was breached," the statement continued.
The four-story, six-bedroom mansion with a large pool is perched on a hillside overlooking Los Angeles with views to the east and south. All levels of the exterior and the roof of the home, building in 2003, appear covered in graffiti. Many of the windows are shattered.
"This is really tragic," said resident Pat Johnston. "This is a fire hazard for us."
Los Angeles police said officers have responded to the property four times in the last two days.
The mansion isn't the only target in the neighborhood for taggers, residents said.
"The guys who come tag, they're tagging other houses on other properties," said resident Mateo Herrerros. "I could care less about this house. It's an abandoned house. The owner doesn't care about it. I don't really care about it. It's just the element it brings."
NBCLA is attempting to contact the property owner. Public records show property taxes have not been paid for years.
"There was a rumor they were going to tear this house down," Johnston said. "I'd like that."
