Derelict house draws grief

Lawns on Lugonia Street in West Newport are dotted with signs in support of District 2 challenger Gloria Alkire, much to the chagrin of Councilman Steve Rosansky. The councilman owns a house on the street that has fallen into disrepair.

“I would vote for whoever ran against Rosansky,” said Melissa Chong, who has lived on Lugonia for about 10 years. “Maybe if he loses the election, he’ll have more time to fix up the house.”

Lugonia residents have complained for several years that the unoccupied house on the street owned by Rosansky is an eyesore. Paint is peeling off the blue stucco, one-story home and one section of the house is boarded up with plywood. A notice of a building permit violation was stuck on a window of the empty house Friday.

“The way [Rosansky] has handled this it makes me think that he won’t do a good job looking out for us on the big issues,” Chong said, who lives next door to the house. “My daughter thinks he should turn it into a haunted house for Halloween.”

Chong prominently displays an “Alkire for Newport Beach City Council” sign in front of the white picket fence that surrounds her home.

A contractor is repairing the house, which Rosansky has owned for about four years, the councilman said Friday. The building permit violation stemmed from a misunderstanding over a trench being dug for a water line, Rosansky said.

“I understand the concerns of the neighbors, and I hope to be done with it as soon as he can complete the work,” he said. “I have every intention of pulling all the permits needed.”

The house became the subject of a campaign mailer sent out to Newport Beach residents last week accusing Rosansky of renting a house to a drug rehab operator — all lies, Rosansky said. The house hasn’t been occupied since the councilman bought it.

Rosansky’s duties as a councilman have kept him busy working to fix other people’s problems in his district, he said.

His efforts to improve his district as a councilman outweigh any problems the house on Lugonia Street have caused, Rosansky said.

“I take care of everyone else’s stuff first,” Rosansky said. “I put other people’s needs and wants before my own. There’s nothing I can do about it at this point and time except more forward.”

Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood said the city has received complaints about weeds, trash and the appearance of the exterior of the house off and on since 2005.

The city has issued the councilman four citations on the house — one was later taken back when Rosansky came to city officials with plans to fix the situation. Rosansky paid one $100 citation. Two other tickets, one for $100 and another for $200, have yet to be paid, Wood said Friday.

“I would say until now he’s done the minimum to respond to our notices,” Wood said. “He does have a contractor doing some significant work out there now.”

Rosansky has fixed a hole in the garage, cleaned up the weeds around the house and put a new door at the rear of the house, Wood said.

Lugonia residents said they don’t feel they’re asking for too much. It’s a quiet street filled with people who take pride in their homes and spend a lot time on landscaping, Chong said.

“A coat of paint and I would never get involved again,” said Lugonia resident Diana Lugo, who has lived in the area for the past 20 years.

“No matter what happens in the election, we’re still stuck with him,” Lugo said.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].