The city of Los Angeles on Tuesday ordered the demolition of buildings at the former Valley Plaza mall, once known as a historic North Hollywood shopping center.
The outdoor mall, which opened in 1951, has long been left to degrade with most of the buildings being vacant for years and encountering numerous problems, including fires, criminal activity and homeless encampments.
“We’re hoping that if they’re forced to tear down these buildings, that they’ll seriously consider developing or selling it to someone who will develop the property because we would like to see something happen here so tearing it down that’s just the first step of many,” said Diann Corral, a North Hollywood resident.
The Charles Company acquired most of the complex in 2015 but failed to develop the property after opening no businesses and letting the structures deteriorate.
On Aug. 19, the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners will hear the city’s application to move forward with demolition and hold the owners accountable for more than a decade of neglect. In the past, the city has tried to get the owners to develop or sell the properties.
“It’s their lack of commitment to the site that’s gotten to the place where it is today, that’s why we wanted it declared a public nuisance,” said Adrian Nazarian, LA City Council member.
Fred Gaines, an attorney for the Charles Company, said that the firm applied for a demolition permit in September 2024, but cited the homeless encampment on the property as a barrier.
“Until this homeless situation is resolved, no one is going to invest tens of millions of dollars into this site,” said Fred Gaines, attorney for the Charles Company.
When it first opened, Valley Plaza was the first outdoor mall in North Hollywood and once drew national attention, including a visit from President John F. Kennedy. Business declined in the 1970s, and the site was severely damaged during the1994 Northridge Earthquake.