The Californer - City Demolishes Abandoned Nuisance Buildings to Improve Safety in North Long Beach

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Long Beach, CA ~ On Monday, March 30, 2026, the City of Long Beach took decisive action to address ongoing safety concerns at a property located at 6020-6090 Long Beach Blvd. After years of being a neighborhood nuisance, the two dilapidated buildings on the lot were finally demolished by city crews.

According to Mayor Rex Richardson, the demolition was necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of residents in every part of Long Beach. The city had received numerous complaints about the property and had given the owner multiple opportunities to address the issues. However, with no significant improvements made, the city stepped in to protect the surrounding community.

The process of addressing safety concerns at this property has been ongoing for several years. In 2022, city inspectors responding to community complaints found that the property was in violation of safety ordinances due to fire damage, broken windows, and excessive weeds. Despite receiving citations from multiple inspections in 2023 and noting progressive deterioration in 2024, including damaged plumbing and electrical systems, broken windows, and graffiti, the owner failed to take action.

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In July 2025, the Long Beach Board of Examiners, Appeals and Condemnation (BEAC) gave the property owner until August 21st of that year to either rehabilitate or demolish the buildings. However, after this deadline passed without any significant improvements made by the owner and continued community complaints, the city decided to move forward with demolition.

The project is estimated to cost between $200,000 and $300,000 and will be fully covered by the owner through a lien on the property. The property is currently in foreclosure and will be sold at auction.

Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk from Eighth District expressed her support for this decision stating that when a property owner repeatedly ignores their responsibility to the community and refuses to cooperate, it is necessary for the city to step in. She also emphasized that the safety and well-being of the Eighth District is non-negotiable.

While there are an estimated 250 abandoned lots in Long Beach, the vast majority of them do not pose hazards to surrounding communities. However, when concerns do arise, more than 90% of owners respond to city citations and demands to clean up their property. In cases where an owner does not respond or cannot be located, the city may declare the property as substandard and take necessary action to address safety concerns.

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The demolition at 6020-6090 Long Beach Blvd. was a rare level of response from the city due to its location within a frequently used school route. The Code Enforcement Bureau will continue to work closely with the Long Beach Fire and Police Departments to identify locations with repeated nuisance calls, particularly those with reported structure fires and criminal activity.

This demolition is part of the city's broader efforts to address issues at vacant lots and storefronts. In October 2024, the City Council directed the Community Development Department to develop amendments to the Municipal Code that would close loopholes and strengthen enforcement tools for addressing safety concerns and preventing blight at abandoned properties. These recommendations were approved by the City Council in January 2026.

The demolition is expected to be completed within one week, after which the property will be enrolled in the City's Vacant Lot Registry and regularly monitored until a new buyer develops it. Code Enforcement officials will also be making door-to-door visits in the neighborhood to inform residents about this action.

Residents can learn more about Code Enforcement Bureau at longbeach.gov/LBCD/Enforcement. The City of Long Beach remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents by taking necessary actions against properties that pose a threat to their community.

Filed Under: Government, City

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