Mohamed Hadid, real estate developer to the stars, has invoked the ire of his Bel Air neighbors who are now suing him over his latest mega-mansion, which once finished will loom over their properties downhill from the development. Hadid will face criminal charges if their suit is successful and will be forced to tear down his multi-million dollar project.
Hadid, already known for his spectacular homes and now a familiar face on reality television thanks to his former wife and supermodel kids, is accused by city prosecutors of illegally building a home bigger and taller than city rules allow — estimated at roughly 30,000 square feet, and despite repeated orders, has failed to cease construction.
His latest extravagant development at 901 Strada Vecchia Road has had it’s building permits revoked to halt construction on areas of this not-so-modest home, like the bedrooms, decks and IMAX theater, that the city never approved. Last year, Hadid pleaded no contest to criminal charges, was sentenced to community service and fines and ordered to craft a plan to stabilize the hillside.
Since then, he has submitted revised plans for the Strada Vecchia structure, which are still under review with the building department. Hadid is also working on getting approval for a smaller home that does falls in line with current codes.
Arguing that the City of Los Angeles is not holding Hadid to it’s own regulations. Bel Air residents living downhill from his construction are now taking the reigns and suing him, demanding that the project either get city approval or be torn down, citing that they have to live in constant fear of the hillside collapsing and their homes values suffering, in addition to losing “their privacy and serenity.”
In their lawsuit, Bel-Air residents John and Judith Bedrosian and Beatriz and Joseph Horacek are asking the court to order Hadid to remove “all improvements” on the Strada Vecchia property and fully restore the hillside between his and their properties, bringing the slope back to the same condition it was in when Hadid bought the site.
“Mohamed Hadid has made a mockery of the city’s laws and the safety of his neighbors, and astonishingly the city of Los Angeles has turned a blind eye,” the plaintiffs’ attorney Victor De la Cruz stated. “At this stage, the only way to bring this illegal mansion into compliance is to tear it down and start over”
Hadid responded by saying he has not reviewed the lawsuit, and sees this as an attempt for financial gain from the neighbors. “The house was totally signed off by every single inspector,” he said. “It’s nonsense to say it was not approved. This lawsuit is total nonsense.”
Hadid maintains he has done nothing wrong, but pleaded no contest to the criminal charges tied to the house to “move on” and avoid embarrassing the city inspectors.
Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office, said the office was reviewing the complaint and has no further comment.
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