The owner of a San Fernando Valley property dubbed a “hoarder house” and “junkyard” by neighbors was denied her appeal stemming from recent inspections.
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety board members voted unanimously Tuesday morning against the appeal brought by Mary Ferrera, the owner of the Sun Valley parcel, who did not even show up for the meeting.
According to neighbors, Ferrera’s son, David Ferrera, has been living on the property while storing trash, old vehicles and even hazardous materials; however, the city has done almost nothing about cleaning up the property.
“This is a project that has been going on for five years. This has been known to the residents and to the city for five years,” Scott, an area resident, said before the LADBS board met Tuesday.
Even more dangerous, the property lies along a fire road that has Scott and other residents concerned that the junk would block firefighters from accessing the area in the event of a wildfire.
Armed law enforcement enters a property described as a ‘junkyard’ in Sun Valley on July 17, 2024. (KTLA) 
Armed law enforcement enters a property described as a ‘junkyard’ in Sun Valley on July 17, 2024. (KTLA) 
Armed law enforcement enters a property described as a ‘junkyard’ in Sun Valley on July 17, 2024. (KTLA) 
A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbor’s sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA) 
A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbor’s sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA) 
A family in Sun Valley is feeling trapped by a neighbor’s sprawling and constantly growing junk collection as seen on July 8, 2024. (KTLA)
Sky5 was overhead last month when firefighters, armed officers and city personnel inspected the six-acre parcel located off La Tuna Canyon Road on July 8.
Scott told KTLA Tuesday morning that the appeal was over the owner’s claims that LADBS has not addressed her correctly and the case, including any violations that need to be corrected, should be postponed until they do.
“I see that as part of the continuance of an attempt to just kick this can down the road and draw this out as long as possible,” Scott said.
At one point during the yearslong battle, owner Mary Ferrera was arrested over the issue and then let go.
“When the city attorney actually brought this against Mary Ferrera, I was there when they actually arrested her and put her in jail because she was lying and trying to draw this out as long as possible,” Scott said.
A representative for City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was at the meeting to request that the board deny the appeal, which it did rather quickly.
“That they could not see for themselves the destruction of their property is just unbelievable,” LADBS Commissioner Javier Nunez said.
The big question neighbors still want answered, though, is what happens next.
“Unfortunately, this has been a pattern. I’m not really hearing anything,” Elena Malone said after the hearing. “I don’t know what’s next. I would like to know what’s next. I would love to work with the office and help in any way I can to clean it up for the community, right? But at this point, there’s no teeth. There’s no action,” she said.
KTLA 5 News reached Mary Ferrera via text message on Tuesday. She said she “understands that her property needs to be cleaned up and is sorry for the trauma it seems to have caused her neighbors.“
Mary also claims she has tried “many, many times” to clean up the property, only to have her work undone by her son’s “hoarding disorder, which has him bringing things back in,” she said.
