Van Nuys Boulevard Falls into Decay Amid Homeless Camps and Drug Activity
Once a teen hotspot, Van Nuys Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley is now dominated by homeless encampments, drug paraphernalia and shuttered storefronts.
Van Nuys Boulevard, a former cultural hub of the San Fernando Valley where teenagers gathered to show off hot rods, has deteriorated into a corridor of abandoned shops and homeless settlements. Observers reported scattered crack pipes, syringes, empty liquor bottles and even jars of open mayonnaise along the sidewalks between Sherman Way and Victory Boulevard. Businesses that remain open, including a 99-cent store where cashier George Barak works, have had to move customer entrances because tents block the main doors.
Dental assistant Aziz Saxenian says patrons frequently ask why the encampments aren’t removed, and she hopes city funds could address the problem. The area’s decline is highlighted by former teen photographer Rick McCloskey, whose 1972 images captured a lively street now described as depressing. District 6 Council member Imelda Padilla did not respond to requests for comment.
Why it matters
The decline of Van Nuys Boulevard illustrates growing homelessness and drug issues affecting local economies and community safety.
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