Valley Plaza Blight to Be Demolished, Clearing Way for Renewal in North Hollywood

North Hollywood residents are celebrating long-awaited news: six long-abandoned buildings at Valley Plaza, a once-bustling shopping center, are finally coming down.

On August 19, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Commission voted unanimously to demolish the fire-damaged and vandalized properties that have been an eyesore and safety hazard for decades. The decision followed years of frustration from neighbors who have pushed for action.

At a press conference announcing the vote, Councilmember Adrin Nazarian was joined by LAFD Deputy Chief Moore, LAPD Captain Morgan, and local community leaders. Together, they described the demolition as a major step toward restoring safety and opening the door for future redevelopment.

“This site has been a danger to our neighborhood for far too long,” said Nazarian. “With this vote, the owners will finally be held accountable, and Valley Plaza will no longer be a hazard to our community.”

The property, owned by The Charles Company, has sat in decline for years. Instead of redevelopment, the buildings became magnets for squatters, repeated police calls, and multiple dangerous fires that required hundreds of firefighters to put out. The City and taxpayers often shouldered the cleanup costs.

Neighbors have long described Valley Plaza as a source of blight in the community. Families avoided the area, small businesses struggled near the empty storefronts, and many residents worried about crime.

Now, with demolition set to begin, locals say they’re hopeful that Valley Plaza can become something positive again — whether housing, shops, or new community spaces.

“This is the first real progress we’ve seen in decades,” said longtime resident Maria Lopez, who has lived near the site for more than 25 years. “We want Valley Plaza to reflect the North Hollywood we know — creative, diverse, and full of potential.”

The demolition won’t solve everything overnight, but residents see it as a turning point. For the first time in years, Valley Plaza has a chance to shed its reputation as a neighborhood hazard and begin a new chapter for North Hollywood’s future.