MUDSLIDE-DAMAGED HOUSE SEEN AS THREAT BY DOWNHILL NEIGHBOR; RESIDENT VS. CITY OVER DAMAGED HOUSE.Byline: Phil Davis
Robert Weinstein says an earthquake- and mudslide-mangled house is about to slide onto his home - and the city has done little to stop it. City officials said Tuesday there is no imminent danger to Weinstein's house on Ensenada Drive, and they are trying to deal with a problem that goes back six years to the mudslide. The house has been declared a nuisance, and the owner is paying to stabilize a steep slope behind Weinstein's house and fix other problems, they added. Weinstein is not satisfied. ``I moved here to get away from the hustle hus·tle v. hus·tled, hus·tling, hus·tles v.tr. 1. To jostle or shove roughly. 2. To convey in a hurried or rough manner: hustled the prisoner into a van. and bustle of the city, and now I'm embroiled em·broil tr.v. em·broiled, em·broil·ing, em·broils 1. To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions: "Avoid . . . in this fight with City Hall,'' he said. ``This house is a blight on the neighborhood. It's a nuisance and a hazard, and the city is just dragging this thing out. I think this is one reason the Valley wants to break away from the city - they're just not responding to our concerns.'' City officials conceded that six years is too long to deal with the problem, but Senior City Building Inspector The following articles relate to the topic of building inspector:
An inlet of the Caribbean Sea on the northern coast of Panama east of the Panama Canal. The San Blas Islands lie along the coast a short distance offshore. Avenue. Since the house poses no ``imminent danger'' to Weinstein's house, the city can't order it to be demolished, Marko said. ``It's on bedrock. Where it's sitting now, the house isn't going down the hill,'' he said. ``What we're attempting to get the homeowner to do now is stabilize the hill so water will go down to the right places.'' A back-and-forth battle between the city, the property owners and Weinstein has left the shattered shat·ter v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters v.tr. 1. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. 2. a. house in legal limbo. Michael Ring Michael Ring (born December 1953) is an Irish politician, serving as one of three Fine Gael Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Mayo. A former breadman and auctioneer, he was first elected in a by-election in 1994. , a Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. lawyer representing owners Douglas and Joyce Maskart, said the couple is doing all they can to deal with the problem, but their plans have been hampered by legal battles and city regulations. ``We're trying to work out a resolution now,'' Ring said. ``We're working with the city. The Maskarts want a resolution. They want to fix the slope. My clients are far more victims in this case than Mr. Weinstein - just look at that hillside.'' Ring said the couple bought the house in December 1978, not knowing that a retaining wall was inadequate. When that wall failed in a 1993 mudslide, their problems began. They unsuccessfully sued the former owner, who has since died. Meanwhile, the Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. The earthquake had a "strong" moment magnitude of 6. in 1994 caused more damage to the shattered house and forced them to move. Marko said the Maskarts were taken to court and convicted of allowing their property to become a nuisance. Since then, the city and the Maskarts have been haggling over how to repair the property. Recently, the couple got approval to encase en·case tr.v. en·cased, en·cas·ing, en·cas·es To enclose in or as if in a case. en·case  ment n. the hill in a soil-cement
mixture that should prevent future mudslides.
But things aren't happening fast enough for Weinstein. He sued the Maskarts, and he's continuing a push to make the city demolish the house. His own experts say a portion of the San Blas Avenue house is beginning to separate from its foundation and could tumble down the hill. He said City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski Cindy Miscikowski represented the 11th District on the Los Angeles City Council for two full terms from 1997 through 2005. Previously, she was an aide to Councilman Marvin Braude and the Executive Director of the Skitball Cultural Center in its beginning stages. has ignored his pleas until he called the local homeowners association Monday. Lisa Levy, Miscikowski's chief field deputy, drove up to the damaged house on Tuesday so building inspectors could give her a progress report. ``We have to go with our experts on this,'' she said. ``They've been looking at the property for several years, and they are taking the proper steps. It would have to be a significant problem for the city to come in and demolish it.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos, map PHOTO (1) Robert Weinstein is continuing his push to make the city demolish a house that threatens his. (2) The city says this house on San Blas Avenue in Woodland Hills is in no imminent danger of sliding. Evan Yee/Daily News Map: Damaged house |
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