LA City Council approves millions to clean abandoned, graffitied skyscrapers

[KARAH RUCKER]

ABANDONED SKYSCRAPERS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES HAVE BECOME A CANVAS.

GRAFFITI – SPRAY PAINTED ON WINDOW AFTER WINDOW OF THE 30-STORY ABANDONED BUILDING.

BUT THE LATEST L-A TOURIST ATTRACTION –

IS PROVING TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE CITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

CALLING IT A HAZARD.

A SAFETY CONCERN.

AND – TRESPASSING.

THE LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF SAID “IT ISN’T ART. IT’S A CRIME.”

CITY OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE AREN’T JUST ILLEGALLY CLIMBING THE SKYSCRAPER TO SPRAY PAINT –

BUT VIDEO FROM A PARAGLIDER SHOWS THE HIGH RISE BEING USED AS A BASE TO JUMP AND PARACHUTE FROM.

NOW – THE CITY IS DISHING OUT MILLIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT AND CLEAN THE BUILDING UP.

THE BUILDING HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR THE CITY –

BECAUSE OF ITS **OWNER –

HONG-KONG BASED “OCEANWIDE HOLDINGS.”

THE DEVELOPER ABANDONED THE BUILDING IN 2019.

THEIR PLANS FOR A PLAZA FELL THROUGH.

AND ACCORDING TO A LOCAL COUNCILMAN –

IT’LL COST THE CITY TWO BILLION DOLLARS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE ABANDONED PROJECT AND MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT GIVEN THE BUILDING’S CONDITION. 

THE CITY WILL PAY TO FENCE OFF THE PROPERTY AND CLEAN THE GRAFFITI.

THEY WANTED OCEANWIDE TO HANDLE IT –

BUT THE DEVELOPER DID NOT RESPOND TO THEIR IMMEDIATE REQUEST.

LEAVING THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE FUNDING UPFRONT –

AND A CITY ATTORNEY WILL TRY AND RECOUP THE MONEY FROM OCEANWIDE.

IT’S NOT ONLY TAXPAYER MONEY GOING TOWARD THE BUILDING DEBACLE RIGHT NOW –

BUT CITY RESOURCES ARE ALSO BEING EXPENDED.

THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SPENT MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND HOURS PATROLLING THE SITE.

AND ARE NOW PATROLLING 24 HOURS A DAY WITH HEIGHTENED PUBLIC INTEREST AND PEOPLE NOW USING THE BUILDING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA STUNTS.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ARRESTED 18 PEOPLE SO FAR.

THE CITY IS URGING PEOPLE TO STAY OUT.