EX-CRIME SITE SHINES APARTMENTS CLEANED UP AFTER LAWSUIT.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - An apartment complex once known as a haven for drug dealers and other criminals has been cleaned up under a partnership that included a court-appointed receiver.

Palmdale city and sheriff's officials showcased the two-story, 22-unit apartment building Monday as a success story for the Partners Against Crime program. Crime, including code violations and drug activity, was so prevalent at the complex that city representatives went to court to get a receiver appointed to clean it up. It was the first legal action of its kind in the Antelope Valley.

``The neighborhood and the city are safer for it,'' Mayor Jim Ledford said.

Cleaning up the complex on 11th Street East required the work of the receiver and a joint effort by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the city attorney and city code-enforcement and public-safety officials.

``This is now a crime-free property because of the work of this team,'' said David Pasternak, the receiver.

City officials filed the case against owner Kimberly Ann Doyle in November 2003 after 13 months during which, according to the lawsuit, a man trying to buy drugs outside the apartments had been shot, at least 26 people had been arrested, and there had been drug dealing, public disturbances and harassment of passers-by.

The roof, plumbing, electrical systems, railings, walls and carpeting all needed work to bring the apartments up to code standards, Pasternak said.

``One unit was full of animal feces,'' he said. ``Most of the units were damaged. Whatever you can imagine, we had to repair.''

Several tenants who had not been paying rent were evicted.

To finance the repairs and to pay off about $200,000 in various liens against the property, a $770,000 line of credit was obtained from a bank. Almost $450,000 was spent on repairs, and the liens were paid.

The bank will be paid back once the property is sold, which is expected to happen soon, Pasternak said.

Pasternak, past president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and attorney representative on the California Judicial Council, was appointed receiver by Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Frank Jackson.

Pasternak said he has been appointed receiver more than 100 times on other properties.

One of the first actions was to place no-parking signs in front of the complex to stop drive-up drug dealing, said Sgt. Kyle Bistline of the Palmdale sheriff's station.

With the receiver and new on-site management, crime has dropped dramatically, Bistline said.

``This building has been really turned around,'' Bistline said.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford speaks Monday in front of an apartment complex where city and sheriff's officials obtained a cleanup and dramatically reduced crime.

(2 -- color) Children - from left, Reese Harsh, 7; Tammie Kane, 10; and Ethan Harsh, 3 - play in a vacant apartment Monday while adults look over court-ordered building improvements.

(3) Tammie Kane, 10, safely rides her bike in an apartment courtyard that officials say used to be a haven for criminals.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News