Repairs Progress on Downtown Slum

A month after Thousand Oaks code enforcement officers conducted an early morning sweep of an overcrowded ghetto about a mile from City Hall, city officials say they are satisfied with the property owners’ efforts to fix up the area.

When city officials and Ventura County sheriff’s deputies converged on the makeshift village at Royal Oaks and Sunset drives on April 16, they gave landlords Joy and Al Silver 30 days to pull permits and begin the work to repair the property’s countless health and safety violations.

About 50 Latino immigrants were living on the property in four small houses, two shacks, garages and metal toolsheds. Because of the poor living conditions, many were forced by the city to leave their homes by day’s end.

Dave Hueners of Thousand Oaks’ Community Development Department said Monday that the Silvers have met the city’s demands on time and are working to make the improvements.

“We’ve had some advancements and some permits taken out,” Hueners said. “Progress is being made.”

Shawn Mason, the attorney representing the Silvers, said Monday that his clients are doing all they can to perform the work as quickly as possible. He said the Silvers may take a little longer to complete all the work on the property, because they may have to build some type of off-street parking area, but are working fast to take care of the city’s health and safety concerns.

“Last week, permits were issued by the city to the Silvers to do the needed repair work on the property,” Mason said. “It’s being taken care of.”