City files suit against landlord

The city of Glendale has filed a criminal complaint in Glendale Superior Court against the owners and managers of a La Crescenta apartment complex for alleged violations involving retaliation and failure to pay relocation fees to tenants.

The 33 count complaint was filed against Valderas Drive Properties, LLC, of Los Angeles, and Starpoint Commercial Properties, of Beverly Hills, managers of 2121 Valderes Drive. The complaint contains six infractions and 27 misdemeanor counts.

The firm was the target of numerous complaints by residents for attempts to evict tenants and for violating state and city rules in remodeling the property.

In the new action, the city charges that between March 27 and Sept. 24 of this year, Valderas and Starpoint engaged in retaliation against various tenants and that the company failed to pay relocation fees. Both are in violation of the Glendale Municipal Code. The actions by Valderas and Starpoint allegedly occurred during the renovation of the apartment complex.

Glendale City Attorney Scott Howard says tenants in the complex approached City officials seeking assistance. “During the course of our investigation, we determined that the tenants were subjected to a number of abuses,” he said “In many cases, it amounted to uninhabitable conditions.”

He also noted that the company increased rents during the same period of time. “Tenants who should have received relocation fees during the construction work, instead moved out of the complex because of the rent increase and other problems.”