LA Council Watch

← All files

2335 West 20th Street / REAP

Council File 26-0005-S172

Under review — the Housing Committee approved closing the rent escrow account for this West Adams property after the owner fixed all 29 code violations. It's now waiting for full City Council approval, expected by late September.

Introduced
2026-09-08
Last changed
2026-09-16
CFMS file status
File open See note on file status
Expires
2028-09-16
Committee
Housing Committee
Initiated by
Los Angeles Housing Department
References
Assessor Parcel (APN): 5073-025-020Case: 828583

This is the City Clerk's status for the council file itself, not the outcome of the measure. A file often stays open after the Council has already adopted an item. The summary above reflects the latest recorded action.

Brief

The Los Angeles Housing Department submitted a real estate matter concerning property at 2335 West 20th Street (APN 5073-025-020) under the REAP (Real Estate Acquisition Program) for approval. The Housing Committee reviewed and approved the item on September 16, 2026, one week after referral. The file remains open and is pending further council action or implementation.

Full summary

The three-unit rental property at 2335 West 20th Street in the West Adams neighborhood was placed into the city's Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) in May 2024 after LAHD's Code Enforcement Division cited it for 29 violations, including deficiencies in fire warning devices, weatherproofing, plumbing and gas systems, heating and ventilation, general maintenance, and illegal construction. Under REAP, tenants pay reduced rent into a city-held escrow account rather than directly to the landlord, pressuring owners to make repairs in order to regain access to rental income. The property owner, Equity Genie LLC (care of Alan Huerta), has since corrected all cited violations. LAHD's Code Enforcement Division independently verified the corrections, the owner satisfied all outstanding utility charges with the Department of Water and Power, and nonprofit legal contractor Inner City Law Center provided an advisory opinion confirming completion of the work. LAHD General Manager Tiena Johnson Hall, through Director Marcella H. DeShurley, formally recommended that City Council terminate the rent reductions and close the escrow account. Under the proposed resolution, rents would be restored to their pre-REAP levels 30 days after LAHD mails tenants a notice of restoration. Escrowed funds would be disbursed in a set order: first to cover LAHD administrative fees and penalties, then any outstanding fees under the municipal code, then any unpaid rent registration fees under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, with any remainder returned to the landlord. LAHD would also record a certificate with the County Recorder's Office formally terminating the REAP lien on the property, and the owner would be required to prepay fees covering two years of follow-up inspections beyond the standard Systematic Code Enforcement Program cycle. The Housing Committee approved the item on September 16, 2026, the key development since the file was opened. The matter is now awaiting a full City Council vote, targeted for the September 30, 2026 Council agenda per LAHD's request.

Activity (4)

  • 2026-09-16 Housing Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-09-11 Housing Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 16, 2026.
  • 2026-09-09 Los Angeles Housing Department document(s) referred to Housing Committee.
  • 2026-09-08 Document submitted by Los Angeles Housing Department, dated September 8, 2026.

Documents (2)

View on CFMS →