Mounds of clutter outside Huntington Beach home creates eyesore for neighborhood

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Neighbors say the mounds of clutter outside a Huntington Beach home are so bad, they can't use the sidewalk in front of the house.

They say junk, rubble and trees are so overgrown they've swallowed the cars in the driveway.

That's how neighbors describe the home they say has become more than just an eyesore; it's a place they actively avoid.

Marie Weed, who lives nearby, says the property is not only unsightly but also unsafe.

"It is dangerous to us and our pets. Most of my friends walk their animals across the street," she told Eyewitness News.

Several other neighbors voiced similar frustrations but were reluctant to go on camera.

Off-camera they told Eyewitness News that the homeowner is often seen working on old cars but not on cleaning up the property.

Daniel Lopez, who walks his dog Charlie past the house frequently, said the conditions have never improved.

"It's always been full of stuff, and I don't know how it is livable for them. That's the only thing I think of when I walk by," he said.

"It has always just looked really bad. It has just gotten worse and worse over the years," another neighbor, Aaron Stapp, added.

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Weed says the situation has gone from frustrating to unacceptable.

"It is sad because these properties are so valuable. They're worth so much, and it's bringing our property down. There's no excuse," she said.

Huntington Beach city officials confirm they have received 39 complaints about the home over the years.

"Several citations have been issued against the owner. Code Enforcement is working closely with the city attorney's office, but due to ongoing matters, we cannot provide further comment at this time," Huntington Beach Public Affairs Manager Corbin Carson said in a written statement.

Frustrated residents say citations aren't enough. Some would like to see the city take direct action by sending in a cleanup crew and billing the homeowner.

"I mean, I don't know what else you can do to someone who owns the house and doesn't want to take care of it," Lopez said.

For now, the debris and overgrown vegetation remain. Neighbors say they'll keep speaking out until the city steps in and the longtime eyesore is finally cleaned up.

Eyewitness News tried to contact the homeowner, but those efforts were unsuccessful.