Hollywood residents divided as construction begins on 51-unit tiny home village to house homeless

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- City leaders gathered on Sierra Vista Avenue on Thursday to mark the start of construction on a 51-unit tiny home village that officials say will provide interim housing for people recently living on the streets.

Mayor Karen Bass said the project represents a significant step in addressing homelessness in Los Angeles.

"We need to have these sites in many more places around our city," she said.

The taxpayer-funded development is planned on an empty lot in Hollywood. The area previously drew attention in April of last year, when tents equipped with solar panels and decorated with trophies lined the sidewalk as we showed you in a previous 7 On Your Side Investigates report. The encampment was cleared in August through Bass' "Inside Safe" initiative, and the street today is free of tents.

Some nearby residents, however, worry the new housing could revive past problems.

Luis Aguilar, who owns two rental units near the site, said he remembers the issues he experienced when the encampment was active.

When asked whether he wished the tiny homes were being built elsewhere, he said, "Yes." Aguilar also said people from the former encampment broke into his home and "stole things from my tenants."

Keith Johnson, an advocate for residents frustrated with homelessness in the neighborhood, said the area has improved since the encampment was removed.

"The neighborhood is back to what it was," he said. While he supports providing shelter, he questioned the location: "Why right here in a residential area?"

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez said his office conducted extensive outreach before moving forward.

"We door knocked on over 700 doors - we had dozens of conversations if not hundreds, and 80% of the folks we talked to say they want to have this here," he said. "I think neighbors recognize encampments already exist in the area and what they were asking for us is to bring more resources."

Bass said the tiny home village will include security. The project is expected to be completed and open early next year.