The park behind the Avalon Wilshire is an ongoing headache for residents of the adjacent La Brea Hancock area who are fed up with the drug dealing occurring in the park, and the Avalon’s lack of response to fixing the problem. According to residents of the adjacent  La Brea Hancock Homeowners Association (LBHHA), the Avalon has never fulfilled  its obligation to provide lighting and security for the quiet green space that is a buffer between busy Wilshire Boulevard and the adjacent neighborhood, and runs north-south between Orange and Mansfield.
Homeowners living behind the Avalon Wilshire complain that Avalon has not lived up to its side of the agreement forged in 2003 that provided the development an ordinance/zone change and conditional use permit. In the deal, Avalon was to provide maintenance of the green space, lighting at night, and  24-hour security.
“I am disgusted that after all the negotiation and work this neighborhood has done, which went on for more than 10 years, that Avalon made promises that they never took seriously and didn’t hold up to,” Barbara Savage, President of the LBHHA told the Larchmont Buzz.  “None of the conditions that were set in our covenant with Avalon have been fulfilled. All of the conditions fell to the wayside, and without any penalty. Is the city weak, or just lazy? Do we have a leg to stand on  – is no one willing to enforce the agreement?”
The LBHHA says drug dealing has been witnessed in the park during both day and nighttime hours. To add fuel to the fire, a nearby home was recently burglarized and the perpetrator was proven to be a drug customer of an Avalon Bay resident or subtenant.
The LBHHA has asked the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council (GWNC) to push the city to enforce the negotiated [Q] conditions and urge the property management to remedy the situation and/or impose additional conditions.
“There is absolutely no security being provided, nor is there any lighting,” Savage said. Â “These conditions were detailed in the covenant between Avalon, the City of LA and the LBHHA, and yet Avalon has not fulfilled its obligations. We have all seen drug deals going down, and one local resident even taped one on her cell phone. We’ve had to call in the DEA and the City Attorney’s office because of the illegal activity happening there.”
Savage said that the buffer green space that extends one block south of the Avalon green space is operated by 5055 Wilshire has a full-time security detail on site, and far fewer problems. She also noted that residents of both the neighborhood and the Avalon enjoy using the grassy tree-lined space and meet there often with their dogs and children, and it’s a great route for runners to get off the busy streets.
The GWNC Board is expected to discuss the complaints and remedies on Wednesday, Oct 8th (7 pm) Â in its monthly meeting and may request the City to impose new corrective conditions that would provide adequate security and maintenance in the green space. The GWNC meeting is open to the public and interested or affected parties in the community are encouraged to attend.
The Avalon Wilshire  property was completed in 2007 and offers one to three bedroom rental units and townhomes in  “an ideal location for people with a zest for living.”
Avalon has consistently failed to maintain lights at night for the past few weeks.
It’s unfortunate that Avalon Bay has not responded to simple requests from the La Brea Hancock Homeowners Association’s President, Barbara Savage, to fulfill their obligation to provide 24 hour security at the park. We hope they change their ways and become our allies, not our adversaries.
Avalon failed to comply with the Q conditions when it allowed open air, daytime drug transactions, rear entry to its premises and broken lights to persist over a several week to several month period around or about April 2014 to September 2014 potentially endangering the safety of park users and adjacent residents/neighbors.
Avalon failed to comply with the Q conditions when it allowed drug dealers to move into its building, opening up the greenspace and adjacent neighborhood to daytime drug transactions and an alarming increase in traffic, including attracting known gang members to the area who later committed a burglary and endangered the safety and welfare of all nearby. Avalon needs to step up and take responsbility for what it agreed to do over a decade ago.
This publicly traded REIT with a $20 billion market capitalization is not living up to the intent of its agreement with the local residents. The City of Los Angeles should not allow Avalon Bay to continue with any developments until it cleans up its act.
Since I moved into the neighborhood in April, I have not seen a single security patrol provided by the Avalon. The lights as the gentleman above commented, have not worked and the residents/guests park over night on Mansfield daily. They litter and loiter as well. Avalon needs to step up and take responsibility!
Avalon at 5115 Wilshire between Orange and Mansfield needs to step up and honor its agreements with the neighbors. Our children and families are at additional risk during the day or night because of the shortcoming in security. The 5055 Wilshire property to the east is providing security in their green space. Why can’t Avalon take those simple steps?
Maintain the lights, provide 24 hours patrol – please keep our neighborhood safe!