'It drives me nuts': Mulholland Drive eyesore draws neighbors' ire, safety concerns
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Set us as preferred Ted Costas felt weird putting a lock and chain on a neighbor’s gate, but he didn’t have a lot of other options.For weeks, people had been gathering at the abandoned property on Mulholland Drive overlooking a canyon right below the Universal City Overlook.It was July 4, and Costas was afraid that the people who were regularly gathering at the house might start a fire.
Two days later, the lock was gone, Costas said.The property enjoys some stunning views of the San Fernando Valley and the mountains beyond.
But for everyone else in the Studio City neighborhood with a view of the house, it is an eyesore and a hazard.“It drives me nuts,” said Kris Henigman, who lives downhill from the abandoned property and sees it every day when walking in the neighborhood.The house is hard to miss.
Standing on stilts near the top of the canyon, it is surrounded by brush and dirt on either side and is more than 200 feet from the nearest house north of Mulholland.From below, it looks like an isolated bunker built on the side of a canyon.
California Sounds of saws and power tools once emanated from a property on West Hollywood that was under construction, but after it was abandoned, it’s been taken over by coyotes that howl through the night, neighbors say.Trash and debris can be seen trailing down the slope below the house.From above, standing at the viewpoint, graffiti is visible on the roof.
A gate that, as of Wednesday, had two locks on it opens onto a path that leads to the house.Around 7:10 p.m.
Wednesday, three people appeared to hop the fence on the south side of the property, slide down the dirt and step into the house.With a flashlight, they milled around inside, then two of them used their arms to make a heart shape together in front of the view of the valley.
One of them then pumped his arms in the ai...