All kinds of buildings can sit empty for years on end, and any building can fall into disrepair.
I've come across the usual suspects (all kinds of buildings in poorer parts of the city) and the unusual (homes in pricey neighborhoods, rare architectural treasures, even a parking lot). I can't say hearing about an empty, rotting medical building surprises me at all.
8809 Sunland Boulevard, also known as the Sunland Boulevard Professional Building, is a petite Midcentury Modern doctor's office dating to 1954. It hit the market at the rock-bottom price of $495,000 and is already in escrow. You can't even buy a small condo at that price in much of LA County.
Why? Real estate in LA, even in a partially-industrial neighborhood like Sun Valley, tends to command premium pricing.
A hidden Yelp review for the medical practice formerly based in the building indicates it was having problems. The doctor is no longer licensed to practice medicine as of late 2019.
The building became a dispensary, but there seems to be very little documentation, and it has been closed for long enough that squatters moved in. With few pictures of the exterior available and none showing the interior, I can't make any statements regarding the building's condition.
The listing states, clear as day, "Property does not currently have a leased tenant and is occupied by vagrants. Ideal opportunity for a medical office once cleaned-up and secured. Property is currently inhabited by vagrants and is unsafe to be viewed. Please do not visit property."
I don't know who the buyer is, but I hope they do something great with it.
About C.C. de Vere
C.C. is a fourth-generation Angeleno and is horrified at what greed and hubris are doing to Los Angeles.
This website was built by her preservation pals at Esotouric.
