Order To Vacate Diamond Bar Condominiums Lifted

DIAMOND BAR, CA — Diamond Bar officials lifted its Sept. 30 order to vacate, and in its place issued a new order that allows all units to be once again occupied. Access to certain areas, specifically balconies of some of the units, will be limited.

On Sept. 30, 2021, the city issued a Notice and Order to Vacate to the residents of the two-story, 150-unit condominium complex. Residents had until Oct. 18 leave to vacate their unit after an inspection revealed that the complex had a lot of problems, including a termite infestation, visible mold growth, deteriorated building foundations and damaged floor supports.

A city-selected structural engineer conduct a preliminary on-site survey of all twelve buildings as part of a two-part approach to assess the structural condition of each building.

A report structural prepared by Englekirk Structural Engineers and Cannon Corporation this week concluded that, based on their independent inspections, that while there are substantial deferred maintenance issues that should be addressed throughout the complex property, the condition does not create a widespread and immediate danger to the life or safety of all occupants of the individual units as previously recommended via a report by Khatri International, a structural engineer hired by the Diamond Bar Village Homeowner’s Association.

The city announced it will now remove all red and yellow tags which prohibited entrance into the second-floor units, and yellow tags that limited access to first-floor units and clubhouse for property retrieval.

Under the November order, all units may now be occupied, city officials said. However, the following seven units do have balcony structural concerns: B-8, D-8, E-8, F-6, G-7, H-7 and H-8. Those balconies will be red-tagged, but all other areas of those units may be occupied.

As for what's next? The city said it will issue a separate Notice and Order to Repair to the Diamond Bar Village Homeowners’ Association related to the common areas of the property that it claims remains in a substandard condition. It will also issue any further orders as necessary regarding portions of single units which are not safe to occupy.