Progress Continues at Brentwood Texaco Station

Councilman Bill Rosendahl's office touted the expediency of Brentwood's new senior lead police officer to address the blighted Texaco Station at the Feb. 5 community council meeting.

Field Deputy Joaquin Macias said Maria Gray, of the Los Angeles Police Department, hit the ground running to investigate what has long been an eyesore property at 115 Barrington Ave. in Brentwood Village. Within four weeks of a collective meeting between his office, LAPD, the Department of Building and Safety, the city attorney's office and the property owners of the old Texaco station, it's "been like night and day."

A historical pattern of transients have occupied the former gas station, and there have been allegations of harassment of nearby business owners and pedestrians, as well as fighting and drug dealing. As soon as Gray came on board to replace former Senior Lead Officer Philip Enbody in late 2012, she sought to correct the problem, seeking residents and business owners to file declarations with the LAPD.

"We are appreciative of that," Macias said.

Gray, who was also at Tuesday night's meeting, said work crews have been on site cleaning up the gas station. She also passed out more declarations at the council meeting.

"We kind of put the pressure on the owners to take responsibilty," she said. "The city can take property away if they're not maintaining it."

Gray added, "The son of the owner is in and out of rehab. He's gone. He will be back. They always come back."

(A correction was made to a mispelled name. Patch apologizes for the error.)

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