North Hollywood residents received long-awaited news this week: the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Commission has voted to demolish six blighted buildings at Valley Plaza, a decayed shopping center that has plagued the neighborhood for decades.
The press conference, held August 19, 2025, was led by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian alongside LAFD Deputy Chief Moore, LAPD Captain Morgan, and community leaders. Together, they announced the unanimous decision to bring down the fire-damaged, vandalized, and graffiti-stained structures that have long endangered the public.
The buildings’ owners, The Charles Company, had for years resisted calls to redevelop the property, sell it, or even secure it against trespassing. Instead, the site became a magnet for squatting, repeated police calls, and a string of hazardous fires that required hundreds of firefighters to risk their lives. Cleanup and safety costs were repeatedly borne by the City and its taxpayers.
“Since I took office last December, I’ve worked with the Department of Building and Safety to have these ruined buildings declared a public nuisance,” Nazarian stated. “Now, with this vote, the owners will finally be held accountable, and Valley Plaza will no longer be a hazard to our community.”
The demolition marks a turning point for the long-neglected property, opening the door to potential redevelopment that could provide much-needed amenities and economic activity for the neighborhood.
A Historic Moment for the District’s Armenian-American Community
Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who represents parts of North Hollywood and the East San Fernando Valley, is a proud Armenian-American and one of the few elected officials of Armenian descent in Los Angeles politics. His district is home to one of the largest Armenian populations outside Armenia, with tens of thousands of Armenian-Americans living, working, and raising families in the Valley.
For many in the community, Nazarian’s leadership on Valley Plaza carries symbolic weight: it represents not only the improvement of a long-neglected property but also the capacity of Armenian-Americans to shape the future of Los Angeles neighborhoods. Nazarian has consistently emphasized both public safety and economic revitalization, priorities that resonate strongly in immigrant communities striving for stability and growth.
As the Valley Plaza buildings come down, residents look forward to a new chapter—one where the site can finally reflect the vibrancy, diversity, and resilience of North Hollywood and its Armenian-American community.
