Red Car Property Lot C: Camping Is Not An Approved Land Use In R-2 Zoning

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor, October 1, 2015.  This is not an unpaved public street.  It is private property: APN: 5438-007-001, also known as Lot C, north of India Street on the County Assessor's maps.  The Acura is parked there with someone hanging out inside.  The engine was not running. (Click on photos to enlarge.)

When a neighbor sent photos early this morning of the campsite and cars blocking the trail on Lot C of the Red Car Property, I immediately sent them to the property owner's rep Howard Fields, LAPD Senior Lead Officer Lenny Davis, City Councilmember O'Farrell's Deputy Adam Bass (CD13) and City Attorney William Larsen.  There has been an ongoing squatter problem with a couple of properties adjacent to this end of the Red Car Property.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 12, 2015.  Since March, neighbors have been complaining about squatters on 2340  2344 Riverside Drive*, a vacant lot adjacent to the Red Car Property, just about 50' from this morning's campsite.  

As of September, there was an increase in activity on the 20-30' portion of the downslope where all the construction debris, tires and junk is stored, as suddenly it was being moved around.  The downslope 20-30' belongs to the Red Car Property not to 2340  2344 Riverside Drive*.  The flat portion of the lot was being used as a bathroom and dumping ground again.  I let all the aforementioned authorities and the Red Car Property owner's rep know about it several times in September.  Neighbors reported an increase in activity too, including when someone had tapped into the DWP transformer on the telephone pole at Gilroy with an extension cord to another adjacent garage known to house squatters.  

Since early May, things had been quiet on the Red Car Property.  Do not confront these squatters.  These people appear to have been living on the street a long time and may not be entirely stable.  

Until we know how to best deal with this situation, I suggest sending photos of problems on the Red Car Property to CD13: adam.bass@lacity.org with Red Car Property in the subject line.  If it is an emergency call 911.   

*2344 is the vacant Riverside Drive lot with the squatters.  2340 Riverside Drive is the adjacent house.  At one time, the same family owned both properties.  The house is being flipped.  The adjacent vacant lot has squatters.  Both properties use the Red Car Property's Lot C for access.