DEMOLITION WORK ON FIRST FLOOR POSES POTENTIAL DANGER!

Residents protest air quality issues wearing masks with signs warning against living there.

5550 Tenants Association: Empowering Renters

We empower 5550 Hollywood residents, provide renter support, and warn prospective 5550 renters about tenant rights.

DANGER! DUST AND POTENTIALLY ILLELGAL DEMOLITION WORK

Welcome to 5550 Tenants Association!

The Fifty-Five Fifty Tenants Association has recently observed demolition and exterior construction activity taking place in the historic portion of the building at 5550 Hollywood Blvd. Based on reports and photographs provided by residents, this work has raised a number of serious safety and environmental concerns that the association is now formally reviewing.

Interior Concrete Demolition

Residents observed workers removing broken concrete and masonry materials inside the building, including in areas adjacent to the parking garage and common spaces.

Concrete demolition can generate respirable dust, including crystalline silica, a substance that is known to pose health risks when inhaled. In occupied residential buildings, demolition work is typically expected to involve:

Dust-suppression methods such as wet cutting or wet breaking
Containment procedures to prevent dust migration
Appropriate respiratory protection for workers
Clear communication to residents about construction activity

The Tenants Association has requested clarification from management regarding permits, contractor licensing, and dust-control procedures related to this work.

Exterior Paint Scraping on Historic Window Sills

In addition to interior demolition activity, residents have also documented paint scraping occurring on exterior window sills in the historic façade of the building.

Photographs show recently scraped paint and exposed underlying material beneath the windows along the building’s exterior.

Because older buildings often contain lead-based paint, disturbing painted surfaces can create lead-containing dust or debris if appropriate precautions are not taken. Federal law requires property owners of buildings constructed before 1978 to disclose known lead hazards and follow specific safety practices when painted surfaces are disturbed during renovation or repair work.

While the Tenants Association does not yet know whether the affected surfaces contain lead-based paint, the association has requested that management provide:

Lead-paint disclosures previously provided to residents
Any lead inspection or environmental testing reports for the building
Confirmation of whether contractors performing this work are EPA Lead-Safe certified
Information regarding containment and debris-control procedures used during exterior scraping

Requests for Documentation

The Tenants Association has formally requested that building management provide documentation regarding:

Construction permits for demolition activity
Contractor licensing and oversight
Dust-control and air-quality protection measures
Lead-safety documentation for work affecting painted surfaces

These requests are intended to ensure that construction activity occurring within and around the building meets applicable safety and environmental standards and does not unnecessarily expose residents or workers to hazardous dust.

Commitment to Resident Safety

The Fifty-Five Fifty Tenants Association believes that residents deserve transparency regarding construction activities that may affect health, safety, or building conditions.

Demolition and renovation work in occupied residential buildings should be conducted with appropriate precautions and clear communication with residents.

The association will continue monitoring this situation and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Residents who have observed construction activity or have concerns about dust, debris, or other building conditions are encouraged to document what they see and report it to the Tenants Association.

Is management doing illegal demo work in our building? What do you think?

Residents beware -- demo work here.

your association, Holding Management Accountable

The Rusty Hot Tub and City Citation #952912

The 5550 Tenants Association is formally demanding answers regarding the condition of the building’s hot tub.

This is not rumor.

This is not aesthetics.

This is not nitpicking.

It is documented.

In September 2025, the City of Los Angeles Housing Department issued a Notice and Order to Comply regarding multiple violations at 5552 W Hollywood Blvd. Among them:

“REPAIR DAMAGED PLASTER IN HOT TUB IN APPROVED MANNER.” NTC CASE #952912

The violation was again reflected during a November 3, 2025 inspection. NTC CASE #952912

This is City-documented deterioration.

What Residents Continue to See

Despite the citation, residents continue to observe:

Exposed plaster
Surface failure
Visible rust staining
Ongoing deterioration inside the hot tub basin

The question is simple:

Has it actually been fixed?

Or has it simply been left in place while residents are told everything is fine?

Why This Matters

Amenities are not decorative extras.

They are part of what residents pay for.

The hot tub is advertised.
It is marketed.
It is factored into rent.

When the City cites a building for failure to maintain an amenity in a safe and sanitary condition, residents are entitled to transparency.

And when visible deterioration persists months later, residents are entitled to answers.

What We Have Done

The Tenants Association has sent a formal written request to management demanding:

The exact status of repairs
Dates work was completed
Contractor names and permits
Whether the City has cleared the citation
Whether the visible rust and exposed material are safe
The exact dates the hot tub was closed last fall
Clarification regarding resurfacing that was previously announced to residents

We are not speculating.

We are asking for documentation.

The full letter is available below as a PDF.

The Bigger Picture

This is not about a cosmetic blemish.

This is about compliance with City orders.

It is about maintenance standards.

It is about whether residents are receiving the level of care and transparency they are paying for.

When a City Notice and Order to Comply is issued, that is not optional guidance.

It is a directive.

Accountability Is Not Hostility

The Tenants Association is not interested in drama.

We are interested in:

Compliance
Safety
Transparency
Timely repairs
Accurate communication

If the hot tub has been properly repaired and cleared by the City, management can simply provide the documentation.

If it has not, then a timeline for correction should be provided.

Either way, residents deserve clarity.

We will continue to monitor this issue and provide updates.

Accountability is not confrontation.

It is stewardship of our shared living environment.

Stay tuned.

Surveillance for Residents, Silence for Real Threats

Selective Enforcement, Systemic Security Failures

If They Can Watch Us, Why Can’t They Protect Us?

Residents at The Fifty-Five Fifty are being closely monitored.

But not for the reasons you might think.

In recent months, management has demonstrated an ability to surveil residents for minor, non-damaging conduct in common areas. Cameras work. Monitoring works. Enforcement mechanisms work.

Yet when it comes to actual security threats inside the building’s secured spaces, those same systems appear to fail.

Unauthorized Occupancy in Secured Areas

On a recent Saturday at approximately 2:33 AM, an unauthorized individual was discovered sleeping on a mattress inside the parking garage. The garage is a controlled access area intended exclusively for residents and authorized guests. At the time, residents report that the security desk was unstaffed.

This was not an isolated event.

Earlier this winter, residents documented an unauthorized individual sleeping inside an elevator lobby and stairwell on two separate occasions. These are interior, secured areas of the building. Photographs show the individual lying inside the structure with small objects nearby that appear consistent with drug paraphernalia.

Let that sink in.

Unknown individuals have been able to:

• Enter controlled access areas
• Remain inside overnight
• Establish sleeping areas in garages and interior corridors
• Do so during unstaffed hours

Meanwhile, residents themselves are closely monitored.

What This Reveals

The issue is not merely that security lapses occurred. Any building can face challenges. The issue is selective enforcement and misplaced priorities.

If management has the technological capacity to monitor residents for minor activities, it certainly has the capacity to detect:

• A mattress brought into a garage
• Someone sleeping in an elevator lobby
• Repeated overnight occupancy inside stairwells

When surveillance is active for residents but ineffective for genuine safety threats, it begins to resemble security theater rather than security.

Real Risks, Real Consequences

This pattern raises serious concerns:

Resident Safety
Residents must access garages, elevators, and stairwells at all hours. Encountering unknown individuals sleeping in secured spaces creates unpredictability and anxiety.

Controlled Access Failures
Repeated interior occupancy suggests vulnerabilities in garage gates, entry points, or monitoring procedures.

Liability Exposure
Once management has notice of repeated unauthorized occupancy, continued inaction increases foreseeable risk exposure.

Staffing Gaps
Reports that the security desk was unstaffed during at least one incident highlight the consequences of eliminating 24 hour lobby coverage.

The Solution Is Not Complicated

The building previously operated with a staffed concierge model. In 2020, management signed for packages, monitored the lobby, and maintained intake control. There was active oversight.

The Tenants Association has requested for months that 24 hour staffing be reinstated.

Continuous lobby presence materially reduces:

• Unauthorized entry
• Overnight occupancy in secured areas
• Package theft
• General disorder

This is not an abstract request. It is a direct response to documented events.

A Question of Priorities

Security is not about watching residents. It is about protecting them.

When cameras are deployed against tenants but fail to prevent unauthorized individuals from sleeping inside secured areas, the message is clear: enforcement is selective.

Residents deserve consistent security, not selective scrutiny.

The choice facing management is straightforward:

Continue prioritizing surveillance optics — or restore real, effective security.

The Fifty-Five Fifty Tenants Association will continue documenting conditions and advocating for the safety standards residents deserve!

WE WROTE A SONG FOR ALL THE CRACKHEADS AT 5550 HOLLYWOOD

Welcome to 5550 Tenants Association Homeowners Association's Website!

“Hush Now, Security’s Sleeping”

(A 5550 Lullaby)

Hush now, lobby’s dark,
No one’s watching after dark,
Garage gate hums a gentle tune,
Security will wake up soon.

Rock-a-bye mattress on concrete floor,
Drift off softly by the garage door,
If cameras blink, don’t you fear,
They’re busy watching residents here.

Sleep in the stairwell, quiet and deep,
Elevator lobby’s yours to keep,
While management scans with watchful eye
For art projects that dare to dry.

Hush now, no concierge,
No one guarding the porte-cochère,
Packages pile, alarms don’t beep,
But policy violations never sleep.

Dream of gates that fail to close,
Dream of staff no one knows,
Dream of cameras sharp and bright
Focused anywhere but right.

When morning comes, we’ll all pretend
This is normal in the end,
Just another night gone by
Under the “secure luxury” sky.

So rock-a-bye building, drift and sway,
Priorities tucked safely away,
Watched for the small, ignored for the big,
Security theater — that’s the gig.

Sleep now, lobby bare,
Safety’s mostly just for show,
If they can watch the harmless few,
They can protect us too.

pet of the month or scam of the month??? you decice.

The inside scoop of Avenue5's "Pet of the Month"

“Pet of the Month” or PR of the Month?

At first glance, The Fifty-Five Fifty’s “Pet of the Month” contest sounds harmless. Cute dogs. Instagram tags. A little community fun.

But scratch the surface and the question becomes unavoidable:

Why is management running a promotional sweepstakes while residents are raising serious concerns about building conditions, transparency, and fairness?

Selective Transparency

When residents requested:

Written rules
Clear eligibility criteria
Disclosure of prize value
Explanation of the selection method
Safeguards against favoritism

The response was dismissive and incomplete.

We were told the winner is selected by an “AI randomizer.” No explanation of what that means. No documentation. No description of how the drawing occurs. No confirmation of who administers it.

If it’s random, say how.

If it’s merit-based, say by what criteria.

If there are prizes, disclose their value.

Transparency should not be controversial.

Inclusion After the Fact

Management now claims that anyone may enter, even non-pet owners, by submitting a photo of a pet they “wish they had.”

That clarification only came after concerns were raised.

If inclusivity was always the intention, why was that not stated clearly from the beginning?

Why did residents receive inconsistent verbal representations?

Community programming should be straightforward, not reactive.

The Bigger Pattern

This is not about dogs.

It is about trust.

Residents have repeatedly raised concerns regarding:

Parking audits
Storage charges
Enforcement inconsistencies
Amenity issues

And yet management appears highly responsive when it comes to marketing optics.

When basic procedural questions about a building-sponsored contest are met with deflection rather than documentation, it reinforces a broader perception problem.

If It’s Just for Fun, Prove It

If this contest is harmless community engagement, then publishing formal rules should be easy.

If the drawing is random, the process should be auditable.

If no data is being collected for lease enforcement purposes, say so explicitly.

The refusal to provide simple written clarity turns a trivial contest into a credibility issue.

Community Requires Trust

Residents are not opposed to fun.

We are opposed to opacity.

We are opposed to selective communication.

And we are opposed to initiatives that appear casual on the surface but lack procedural integrity underneath.

A building cannot rebuild trust with smiley faces and social media tags.

Transparency is not optional. It is foundational.

Until management is willing to provide clear written rules, clear methodology, and consistent representations to all residents, the “Pet of the Month” contest will remain what it has unfortunately become:

A symbol of misplaced priorities.

meet your new neighbor: A CRACKHEAD VAGRANT.

Residents of the 5550 (and prospective tenants), MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR: A Crackhead.

The crackhead, pictured above, was spotted next to a pile of his drugs (also pictured) in the elevator lobby of the building.

Previously, the same crackhead was spotted on a different day, passed-out in a stairwell.

IMAGINE ENCOUNTERING THIS CRACKHEAD WHILE WALKING, ALONE, INTO THE STAIRWELL OR ELEVATOR LOBBY LATE AT NIGHT!

OR EVEN DURING THE DAY.

IT. IS. SCAAARY.

The crackhead smells strongly of drugs, and so he may expose passersby to second-hand crack or meth.

The 5550 Tenants Association wants to be clear: We hope this individual gets the HELP he needs.

We have no conflict with this unfortunate individual, who seems to be experiencing mental illness, drug addiction, and homelessness. Our sympathy is with this man, who is surely the greatest-suffering party in the this situation, and doubtlessly a victim of his circumstances.

We hold management and ownership 100% responsible for this issue.

We believe this crackhead has chosen to live in the common areas of this building BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS LACK OF SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL!

Recall that our garage gate was broken -- and stuck wide open -- for months and months.

Our building management CUT 24-HOUR SECURITY, and REFUSES TO RESTORE IT. THEY REFUSE TO SECURE THE BUILDING!

Josh Vasquez, the senior property manager at 5550 Hollywood, claims he doesn't know anything about the crackhead living in the building. We don't know how that could possibly be true, since his own leasing office staff have had to risk their safety to remove the crackhead (when no security was present).

But we wanted to take Josh Vasquez at his word, so we thought we'd put this photo up on our website, so Josh Vasquez can see it for himself.

If Josh Vasquez didn't know about the crackhead situation before, he should now!

The building management claims that our building doesn't need 24-hour security because the leasing office staff can keep the building secure during the day, when the leasing office is open.

Of course, this is ridiculous!

The leasing office staff are busy showing apartments to prospective tenants, and in any case, are in the leasing office all day -- they are not patrolling the stairwells, elevator lobbies, and OTHER PLACES WHERE THE CRACKHEAD LIKES TO HANG OUT.

Further, we, the Tenants Association, STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FRONTLINE LEASING OFFICE STAFF -- WE DO NOT THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO RISK THEIR SAFETY CONFRONTING DANGEOROUS CRACKHEADS! That is not their job. They are not trained to do security work. We are concerned about their safety.

Greedy management and ownership don't want to pay for security -- but that doesn't mean they can have their leasing office staff working as unlicensed, untrained, security guards.

Demand 24-hour security now.

Josh Vasquez, the senior property manager at The Fifty-Five Fifty, claimed that he doesn't know anything about the crackhead living in the common areas of 5550 Hollywood Blvd.

Let's help Josh Vasquez understand the crackhead security situation.

Send him a quick email, let him know how you feel about the crackhead in our building, and while you're at it, demand that he re-instate 24-hour security.

REPORT A CRACKHEAD

TWO CAR BREAK-INS REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND!

Danger! Motorists beware! Car Break-Ins Now Common, Since Garage Gate Stuck Open.

Over just the past weekend (November 14-16), 5550 Hollywood residents reported not one, but two, car break-ins in the garage.

Many more car break-ins may be reported as residents, cozy inside because of the weekend rain, may return to their vehicles only to find their windows smashed, their belongings stolen.

This is life at the "luxury" Fifty-Five Fifty complex.

Management has not yet put out a statement regarding the break-ins, and has utterly failed to increase security since the main garage gate failed.

Since November 4, the garage gate has been broken, allowing ANYONE into ANY part of the building.

Management REFUSED to hire additional security, but said the courtesy patrolman would pay extra attention to the garage gate while it is broken.

Well, we conducted a security audit on Sunday night and found NO GUARD in the garage or in the LOBBY.

It is utter chaos.

Resident beware!

Don't want your car broken into? Join us and DEMAND more SECURITY NOW!

Write to Avenue5 Residential Vice President Tony Gallo, and tell him we simply cannot live like this, in constant fear for our safety.

Demand immediate supplemental security until the garage gate is fixed, and until we can figure out what the hell is going on.

Click the button below to tell Tony Gallo to STOP THE BREAK-INS NOW!

Tony Gallo, Stop the Break-ins

this is what a bad landlord looks like.

Joshua Vasquez, Senior Property Manager

Taylor Dow, Associate Vice President --Avenue5

Joshua Vasquez has been the senior property manager at 5550 Hollywood Blvd for some months now.

He makes life harder and worse for 5550 residents most everyday.

In September, one resident spotted Josh ANGRILY tearing down tenant-organizing posters from the wall.

According to the witness (who has asked to remain nameless, for fear of retaliation), Josh looked FURIOUS as he stomped around and tore down those posters with incredible fury and zeal.

But, we kinda get it. When you're the senior manager of a building with all these issues, the LAST THING you probably want is for tenants to organize, meet with city council, and stand-up for their rights.

Well, sorry charlie (as they used to say), but you can't tear this website down, no matter how much you violently stomp around. If you want to jump around in anger, we'd suggest doing it somewhere more private next time, where you won't be spotted or terrorize the residents. But you know, just a friendly suggestion. Take it or leave it. Totes up to you.

Oh, also, when the garage gate was broken -- and stuck wide open for more than a month -- Josh did NOT order additional security, which led vagrants wandering the building, record package thefts, and even a car break-in.

Did Josh care? Didn't seem like it. He just dismissed tenant concerns.

We wonder if Josh might have acted faster if it were the door to his office that was broken? Apparently, Josh doesn't like people in his office (we can't blame him). When one tenant stood up for tenant-organizing rights, some high-paid Avenue5 lawyer goons sent that tenant a scary letter threatening "enforcement action" and banning the tenant from the leasing office! How rude.

It seems like, as far as Josh is concerned, tenant-organizing warrants an immediate ban, but a broken garage gate, vagrants in the halls, and car thefts are totes no nbd.

But who knows, we could be wrong about all this. And we want to give Josh Vasquez a fair shake.

So don't take our word for it. Ask Josh for yourself. Or let Josh know how you feel about these failures. As senior property manager, Josh should hear from residents.

Josh can be reached via email at pm.the555@avenue5apt.com.

Taylor Dow, Associate Vice President --Avenue5

Taylor Dow is the the Associate Vice President of Avenue5 Residential.

He sure looks spiffy in that suit, huh? Nice suit, Taylor Dow!

Did you pay for it with all the money from tenants that should have gone to building repairs?

Is that why 5550 Hollywood was cited by the City of Los Angeles Housing Department for THREE DIFFERENT health and safety violations in September 2025?

And why the building was RE-CITED in November 2025 for failure to fix a serious violation?

Maybe roll-up those fancy suit sleeves, Taylor Dow, and get to work helping the residents of 5550 Hollywood.

Have some suggestions or Taylor Dow? Or just want to compliment his fresh suit? You can write to Taylor Dow at: tdow@avenue5.com .

Tony Gallo, Vice President -- Avenue5

Taylor Dow, Associate Vice President --Avenue5

We couldn't find a picture of Tony Gallo, but he's not an associate -- he's a full-blown vice president over at Avenue5 Residential.

We imagine with that big title, he's making mega bucks -- and has more treasure than Scrooge McDuck. And you know what, he earns it!

For instance, when a resident tried to promote a meeting with a city council rep to other tenants, so they could all discuss health and safety issues, Tony Gallo threatened that resident by alluding to "video" surveillance. Wow! That takes some real courage.

Threatening a tenant -- in writing -- for promoting a tenant-rights meeting with an official city rep -- that takes some GUTS.

We hope he's getting the BIG BUCKS for that.

And Avenue5 must have lots of dough to pay him with, given how much they've saving on repairs, security, and legally mandated financial-relocation assistance fees (that they haven't been paying).

But who needs laws when you've got all that treasure, right Tony Gallo?

Tony can be reached at: wgallo@avenue5.com

Emily Ethridge -- Senior Director, Corporate Communications at Grubb Properties

Emily Ethridge is the Senior Director, Corporate Communications at Grubb Properties. That sure sounds important.

Now, we'll be perfectly honest -- we don't know much about Emily Ethridge.

She looks sweet. Maybe she is.

But when we emailed Emily about our tenants association, and asked SUPER nicely to chat, you know what she did? IGNORED US.

That's right, she straight-up ignored us.

Maybe she can senior direct some repairs to 5550 Hollywood Blvd, which was cited for THREE DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS by the City of Los Angeles Housing Department.

And since she's so good at "corporate communications," maybe she could COMMUNICATE with residents about why the hot tub has had rust in it for well over a year, why it's been closed for over a month, and why management hasn't even sent out an email about it.

Or maybe Emily Ethridge could communicate with residents about the HUGE AMOUNT OF EXPOSED FIBERGLASS INSULATION which caused the building to be cited by the Los Angeles Housing Department. She hasn't been "corporate communicating" much about that.

In fact, near as we can tell, that issue was swept under the rug. But when you sweep up fiberglass, it can get pretty dusty. Anyway, if you're reading this, Emily, feel free to give us some pointers of "corporate communication."

If you like to initiate some corporate communications with Emily Ethridge, you can write her at eethridge@grubbproperties.com .

W. Clay Grubb, CEO -- Grub Properties

Emily Ethridge -- Senior Director, Corporate Communications at Grubb Properties

W. Clay Grubb, CEO -- Grub Properties

W. Clay Grubb is so important that whole company seems to be named after him! Wow!

Say that name out loud. C'mon, do it.

It even sounds important, right? We sure think so.

It sounds like a nineteenth century president, or uh, a Victorian-era robber baron.

We wanted to make some word-play jokes around the word "Grubby," but frankly, it's too easy. And besides, he sure sounds impressive.

Apparently ol' W. Clay "leads the company’s overall strategic vision." We wonder if that vision includes exposed fiberglass and a rustyyy hot tub.

W. Clay seems like a pretty well to-do guy. We wonder if he has a hot tub of his own. If he does, we bet it doesn't have rust all over it. But that's just a hunch. Prove us wrong, Clay! We'll eat our hat.

But yeah, our man Clay went to Tulane for his undergrad -- great school, and New Orleans certainly is a fun town.

Sadly, Grubb Properties and their management firm, Avneue5, have been going "BIG EASY" on the exposed fiberglass in the building -- and that we don't really appreciate.

C'mon Clay! Get it together. Please! We'll buy you a King Cake or a New Orleans Snoball or some Gumbo.

Just maybe invest in some meaningful security, fix the air quality, fix the hot tub, hire a manager who actually cares about the tenants, and then we can all go for a pleasant team stroll down Bourbon Street together. We'd like nothing more.

But till then, we have to wonder if your
"extensive experience" in "leasing" involves retaliating against tenants who organize, and angrily tearing-down tenant-organizing posters. Let us know?

Apparently Clay here sits on lots of corporate boards and stuff. He's probably pretty good at managing money. And Grubb Properties should have loads of money, with all the money they've SAVED BY NOT FIXING PRESSING BUILDIGN ISSUES.

Anywho, you can reach the Grubb Properties corporate office about these and other questions at 704.372.5616. Ask for the boss man, ol' W. Clay.

If you get a hold of him, ask where we can find the best Po'Boy sandwich in New Orleans. Inquiring minds want to know.