Los Angeles Approves Demolition of Blighted Valley Plaza, North Hollywood

Valley Plaza in North Hollywood, once a thriving outdoor mall and the first of its kind in the San Fernando Valley, has fallen into severe disrepair, prompting Los Angeles city officials to take action against its owners, Five Points LLC (The Charles Company). Due to years of neglect, vacancy, and rampant criminal activity including fires and squatting, the Los Angeles Board of Building and Safety Commissioners voted to declare the property a public nuisance, paving the way for demolition. City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian has been a leading voice in the effort, criticizing the owners for failing to invest in redevelopment during more favorable economic periods and highlighting the ongoing public safety hazards. The Charles Company has attributed their inability to develop the site to unresolved homeless encampments and has applied for demolition permits, though approval requires city consent for replacement plans. Local residents and officials hope the demolition will be the first step toward revitalizing the site into new retail and multi-family housing, replacing the blighted structures that have burdened city resources for over a decade. The city’s move reflects a broader struggle with retail decline and urban decay, but also a commitment to reclaiming and repurposing neglected urban spaces.