a.k.a. Demolition Man

Recently I requested a transfer out of Zoning Enforcement, having served several communities in South Los Angeles and the South Bay for nearly four years. Read about my decision here and here. The latest gossip at the office indicates that a transfer list will be distributed next week.

Last month I made a presentation to the Regional Planning Commission about some of the work I've done and wrote a post reflecting on what it was like to be "Mr. Florence-Firestone." Today I'd like to share what it was like to also be "Demolition Man."

My partner in the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), who works for the Property Rehabilitation Section of Building and Safety, gave me the nickname of "Demolition Man" several months ago. He did so in recognition of the fact that I am solely responsible for the destruction of hundreds of illegal carports and patios throughout Florence-Firestone.

The following series of "before and after" photos documents three illegal carports that were removed pursuant to enforcement actions I initiated. All three houses are located on the same block, East 90th Street and Hooper Avenue, in Florence-Firestone. The "before" photos were taken on Tuesday, July 14, 2005 and the "after" photos were taken three weeks later, on Tuesday, August 9, 2005.

The reason that these carports were maintained in violation of the Zoning Code is that they were built within the required side yard setback area. Setbacks are those portions of a residential property where structures are not permitted -- typically 20 feet in from the front property line, 15 feet in from the rear property line, and 5 feet in along either side property line. I knew that the carports were built without the appropriate permits because such structures could not have recieved Zoning approval.

Generally, these carports could be considered "eyesores" as well since they are of substandard construction. To an extent, they are safety hazards, but Zoning laws are primarily concerned with aesthetics and "curb appeal." In some instances these structures have stood for 10, 20, even 30 years and people bought these houses not knowing the attached carport wasn't OK. It's very important for me not to regard property owners as criminals and to stress how their voluntary compliance can help the whole neighborhood.

The NET, though, is primarily an educational effort. While it may seem punitive to order property owners to demolish structures, it is an experience they can benefit from. Hundreds of people are now more concious of Zoning requirements and the need for building permits and will know what to look for and what questions to ask when they buy their next home. If they remain in their current homes, they'll know to get Zoning approval and building permits for any construction they do. Few will be so bold as to re-build their carports now that they know the setback requirements are being actively enforced in their community.

It's always surprising to return to a property with an illegal carport I cited and see that it was quickly demolished. It's amazing to see a neighborhood change because of what you do. The impact is most impressive in its cumulative sense: hundreds of structures have been removed throughout Florence-Firestone over the last few years because I ordered them down. The entire community looks better.

However, I must admit that being an authority figure, telling people what to do with their own properties under the authority of the government, has not been something I'm fully comfortable with. Sometimes I have to question whether I am doing individuals more harm than good by demanding they remove a carport or patio they've used for years. I truly do believe that the NET is making Florence-Firestone better, but the day-to-day realities of the job wear on me. I have mixed feelings about being "Demolition Man."