Category Archives: Kern County Code Compliance

Another Hazardous House Demolished in Mojave

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IMG_20140929_154746_41129 October: Another hazardous building is demolished in Mojave, eliminating another blemish on the community and paving the way for future development. This building marks the 13th structure to be demolished in Mojave this year, and is the second on the 15900 block of K Street alone. This house was demolished by the owner, and eliminates the last derelict structure between Space Port Court and Mojave’s KCROP. The Mojave Foundation is proud to work with property owners and Code Compliance to eliminate blight and deterioration, and assist in demolition when necessary. Eliminating vacant derelict buildings removes one of Mojave’s biggest sources of drugs and vagrants, and makes the entire community healthier and more confident.

Demolition on K St – Revitalization Begins

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15946 K St demolitionMarch 24: Another demolition occurred on K Street, marking the sixth hazardous structure in Mojave to be demolished by Kern County Code Compliance since November. The building on the 15900 block of K Street was one of the most widely-known trouble spots, frequently used by vagrants and drug users passing through Mojave. It was also an obstruction for future development, lowering property values as the property steadily continued to deteriorate over the years. The house suffered water damage caused by a hole in the roof, and sustained substantial fire damage after a homeless man started a fire in the property two years ago.

?????????????????????The abandoned building next door is also targeted for demolition, and should come down by April, breathing new life into a strategically significant block with incredible potential. Located in the center of our downtown area between Inyo and Cerro Gordo, these buildings are straddled by Spaceport Court on one side, a highly reputable apartment complex, and KCROP on the other, a county-sponsored organization providing custom teaching and vocational programs. With these two hazardous structures removed, Mojave can finally start having serious discussions about developing these areas, and putting new homes or businesses in those spaces.

Code Compliance, historically limited in budget and resources, was recently injected with additional funding by District-2 Supervisor, Zack Scrivner, and the department has dramatically increased their scope and efficacy in unincorporated areas like Mojave. Demolitions, cleanups, and boarding of abandoned structures are still charged to the property owner in the form of a lien, but at least now the most urgently blighted structures can be removed quickly when they pose a danger to the public. The Mojave Foundation is grateful to Supervisor Scrivner and the leadership and staff at Code Compliance, and is proud to help coordinate with the county to make this possible.

Demolition Continues – Mojave Thinks Development

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Demo BelshawMarch 11: “Another one bites the dust” remarked one excited resident, marking the fifth hazardous structure to be demolished in Mojave since November. The trailer was demolished by Sturgeon Services in Bakersfield, as part of a recent push by Kern County Code Compliance to remove derelict structures and raise housing standards in Mojave. This trailer was one of the most inviting structures for vagrants and drug users in Mojave, conveniently hidden behind trees and completely wide open and inundated with trash and drug paraphernalia. The adjacent utility shack will be torn down in the next several days or weeks, and the next door trailer will be boarded up and secured, ensuring that this property will no longer be a sanctuary for drugs and crime in our community.

Demo Belshaw CraneRemoving these derelict structures from our streets is the first step to changing the unsightly image of Mojave, and creates the necessary space to allow the community to have a serious discussion about community development. These trailers were the first thing visitors saw when entering the Mojave Air & Space Port on Belshaw Avenue, and now the drive into the airport is a little less foreboding. The Mojave Foundation is proud to contribute to the organization and coordination with Code Compliance to remove these hazardous structures, and we look forward to serious discussions with housing developers to bring clean, quality housing to working-class families downtown.

More Houses Demolished Downtown!

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15734 L StMarch 7: Another derelict house came down on the 15700 block of L Street today, the fourth structure to be removed in three months. Another hazardous structure on L Street will be demolished on Monday, and another two houses on K Street in the next several weeks and months. The houses were demolished by Sturgeon Services, a Bakersfield contractor hired by Kern County Code Compliance. Code Compliance has also cleaned and boarded up eight houses since September – on K Street, L Street, M Street, and Mojave Gardens. These buildings are a magnet for drugs and crime, and depress property values in our most vulnerable areas. Demolishing and securing these structures  creates space for economic development to take root, and is critical to the future revitalization of this community. The Mojave Foundation is proud to help coordinate and prioritize the county’s demolition and cleanup efforts, and looks forward to raising housing standards in Mojave.

Code Compliance Commences Demolition of Hazardous Structures!

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L St 15824 20131209 DemoDecember 9: After three months of notices and hearings and missed deadlines, Kern County Code Compliance broke ground on a series of demolitions, starting with these hazardous structures on L Street and M Street, which have been abandoned for over 15 years! “I can’t believe it’s finally coming down” exclaimed a neighbor, happy to see this building go. “Maybe now we can start to M St 15951 20130715 Democlean up this block.” These abandoned structures tend to be one of the biggest sources of drugs and crime in Mojave, and can be extremely dangerous for children and neighbors. This house on the 15800 block of L Street (pictured above) is the first of four structures to be demolished in the next several weeks, including another house on the 15700 block of L Street and the fallen-down garage removed from the 15900 block of M Street (pictured below). The Mojave Foundation works closely with Kern County Code Compliance officials to prioritize buildings for cleaning and demolition, and we applaud the recent flurry of activity.

We encourage property owners to sell their vacant hazardous homes before Code Compliance gets involved. It costs on average $15,000 for the county to demolish a house in Mojave – mostly due to “prevailing wage” mandates and administrative time. If the property owner decides to walk away from the property, the fines and taxes get assigned to the property in the form a lien, which then discourages future development. The Mojave Foundation would much prefer to work with property owners to resolve safety issues quicker and cheaper than what the county can do it for, and to transition the property to responsible owners. Using local volunteers and contractors property owners can expect to pay about $5,000 on average to demolish a structure, and they can usually make a lot more than that when they sell the property to a local buyer. This demolition and transition is a critical part of our strategy to restore the health and vibrance of this community.