photo by Edwin Folven
Old furniture and debris has piled up outside a residence at Mansfield Avenue and Sixth Street. (photo by Edwin Folven)

City officials are addressing a house at the corner of Sixth Street and Mansfield Avenue where old furniture and debris has been piled up throughout the front yard, causing a public nuisance. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety confirmed on Sept. 6 that it has issued an order to the owner to clean up the site.

“A code enforcement inspector investigated the property and an order to comply was issued,” read a statement from a Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety spokesperson. “The property owner was given 30 days to remove the accumulated trash and debris, eliminate open storage in the front yard and repair and manage the wooden fence.”

As of Sept. 13, the property remained unchanged. The debris is visible to pedestrians and motorists passing by on Sixth Street. The office of Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District, has received complaints, spokesman Leo Daube said.

“It was on our radar and we are working with the appropriate city departments to address it and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

The homeowner was not identified by the city. A neighbor who asked not be identified said the debris has piled up for the past couple years, attracting thieves and animals. The neighbor said the property owner formerly owned a store on La Brea Avenue that closed during the pandemic, and the debris has been on the property ever since. The neighbor described the property owner as “a nice guy,” but the excessive storage is “upsetting.” A gate blocks entry and an attempt to contact the property owner was unsuccessful.

Daube added that the situation is “unacceptable” and the goal is to have the debris removed.

“Hopefully it’s cleared in the 30 days,” he added. “If not, we’ll take additional steps.”