Abandoned Hollywood mansions with graffiti spark community outrage

Abandoned mansions owned by Hollywood producer John Powers Middleton in the Hollywood Hills have become a hub for graffiti artists and squatters, causing concern among residents and city officials. The properties, located about five miles apart, have been deemed eyesores in the otherwise upscale neighborhood. City Council member Nithya Raman has warned Middleton about the "egregious violation of the law" and the need for accountability from property owners. This has prompted visits from the police department and building inspectors to address the situation.

A Public Safety Concern

Raman's office stated that the neglected properties pose a public safety issue with serious consequences for both neighbors and the community. The rampant graffiti and the presence of squatters have raised alarms, drawing parallels to similar incidents with abandoned high-rises in downtown Los Angeles. The city inspectors have been actively surveying the abandoned mansions, one of which boasts luxurious features like terraces overlooking the Sunset Strip, an indoor pool, six bedrooms, a screening room, and a wine room.

Unresolved Complaints

Residents, including Marina Mirzuh, have expressed frustration over the abandoned properties for years. The multi-story mansion on North Sunset Plaza Drive has received eight notices from city inspectors since August 2022, signaling a persistent disregard for upkeep. Mirzuh suggested that the city should consider repossessing the house due to the ongoing neglect.

The other mansion on Mulholland Drive had been vacant for about a decade before squatters moved in, subsequently becoming covered in graffiti. Records indicate that Middleton acquired the four-story, six-bedroom mansion with a pool in 2012. Despite the city's Department of Building and Safety declaring it a nuisance and ordering a fence for security, the property remained unsecured for some time.