Photograph by Paul Myers

On a Los Gatos Boulevard property, an abandoned lot has been a dump for old furniture, kitchen appliances and food cartons.

Residents run out of patience waiting for lot's development

By Gloria I. Wang

Six years ago, residents of the houses along Los Gatos Boulevard and Terreno de Flores started moving out, making way for a larger development that was approved by the town.

That project, however, was abandoned by the developer because of a lack of funding.

Since then, the property has fallen into a state of disrepair, even though a new developer is now preparing to raze all the old buildings on the site. Neighbors abutting the back of the lot complain about the garbage that trespassers have left behind and pests that the garbage has apparently attracted.

Nanci Dean's parents are longtime residents of a home adjacent to the property. Speaking on her parents' behalf, Dean says the empty buildings have been shelters for vagrants and dumping spots for garbage through the years.

Three years ago, debris such as old mattresses, washing machines, hot water heaters and chairs were left inside the drained swimming pool. Dean's mother called the town about the situation, and she says the town's solution was to move the waste into an old garage next to the pool. Dean says the trash kept piling up.

In addition, rats have burrowed into the pile of debris. Rats have since ended up on her parents' property and inside the house, Dean says.

"My parents have a right to live without a blighted nuisance next to them," Dean says. "I will protect my parents' health and property for all that it will take."

National Avenue resident Carmela Lomagro says she was under the impression that the site was going to be developed. Like Dean's parents, Lomagro has seen a rat in her yard.

Dean recently contacted the town and the police department to ask for a solution or cleanup. Dean says she was told that the town had given the property owner one month to fix up the site, which Dean hopes will indeed happen.

Los Gatos Director of Community Development Bud Lortz says the town received a letter from Dean at the end of March. "As soon as it was brought to our attention, virtually within 24 hours, we contacted the [project's] architect," Lortz said, and asked the architect to get in touch with the property owner.

The town was told that the owner was working on construction drawings and obtaining the property permits for the demolition and construction of the project. Lortz was also told that demolition would start in April.

"They're going to be hauling all the buildings and all the garbage away," Lortz said. "That should alleviate some of the concerns that [Dean] had."

Debbie Tanner lives on Terreno de Flores; her land is part of the proposed development and the developer closed escrow on Tanner's property on April 3. Tanner will be moving out April 13.

"Obviously, someone has been in there and trashed the property," Tanner said, "[but] if people are there, we're not aware of them. Living right next door to them, I haven't noticed anything."

Lortz also contacted the Santa Clara County Vector Control District, which handles rodent and insect problems in the county.

Since Dean called the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, Chief Larry Todd says, officers have been working with the family to "beef up" patrols of the area and do additional walk-throughs of the site, particularly at night. Dean has a "legitimate concern" since there were problems in the past, Todd says, but he was not aware of any arrests on the property recently.

The property has stood vacant for so long because there were no firm development plans. According to Lortz, the town has a provision that a building cannot be demolished unless a replacement building is in the works.

On Jan. 30, the Los Gatos Planning Commission approved Cupertino Development's design plans for a project on the property, which can be accessed through Los Gatos Boulevard or Terreno de Flores. The development consists of a 14,000-square-foot office building, eight single-family homes, four townhomes and seven apartments.

"It'll all be resolved. [The neighbors] should be happy, because it'll come down quickly," Tanner said.

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