For over two years now, I’ve been worrying about the onslaught of destruction against older housing stock in North Hollywood. Now I’m worried that it’s spreading to Reseda.
7032 Baird Avenue was a rather nice-looking 1947 traditional house. With three bedrooms and a detached garage converted to an ADU (illegally at first, but a permit was obtained shortly), it had enough space to house parents, kids, and an aging grandparent or two.
The house last sold in 2015, and there are no permit applications on file other than the ADU conversion. The initial reports of the building being abandoned and unsecured date back to June.
Early this morning, the house burned. LAFD noted that it was the site of a previous fire. The house is damaged enough that LADBS has been notified; there’s a good chance it’s doomed.
Interestingly, I couldn’t find a record of an earlier fire at 7032 Baird, but I did find an alert for a fire two days ago in the detached garage of 7034 Baird - the house next door. LAFD noted “During the operations, fire companies are reporting explosions on the property, possibly propane tanks exposed to the fire.”
I’ll repeat that for emphasis: there were reported EXPLOSIONS AT 7034 BAIRD, possibly from PROPANE TANKS.
7034 Baird has its own “abandoned building” complaints in ZIMAS, with the first dating to July. But it also has something 7032 doesn’t: redevelopment plans.
Permits to demolish 7034 and its garage were sought earlier this year, but had not been issued. One month ago, Hoodline reported on a developer’s plan to replace 7034 through 7046 with a 75-unit building (with 12 units restricted for very-low-income renters).
Is this demolition by neglect? Only the developer knows for sure.
I’ll say this, though: as a former property manager, I would be VERY wary of any developer or owner who doesn’t adequately secure their properties, even if the intention is to redevelop.
No one deserves to live next to a blighted fire hazard. It’s not tolerated in wealthier neighborhoods like Studio City, and it’s not okay in Reseda, either.
Let’s not forget that any of these “unwanted” homes could have been offered up to fire survivors and moved instead of falling into disrepair. What a waste.