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Turnberry neighbors ask Anaheim for inspections and nuisance action over Lemon Tree Hotel crime
Summary
Residents from the Turnberry community told the council the Lemon Tree Hotel has been the source of prostitution, drug sales and other crimes, and asked for more code enforcement, regular inspections, increased patrols and possible nuisance-abatement action.
Anaheim — More than 70 Turnberry-area neighbors asked the City Council on Aug. 26 to take stronger action against the Lemon Tree Hotel, which they said is a persistent source of criminal activity that is harming neighborhood safety and property values.
"We're here tonight on behalf of 70 plus neighbors to raise urgent concerns about ongoing criminal activity connected to the Lemon Tree Hotel," Pablo Castillo told the council. "We've called the police multiple times when incidents occur. We're also working with the Anaheim Police."
Why it matters: Residents said the hotel's activities — which they described as prostitution, narcotics sales and disorderly conduct — have led to direct impacts on safety and the quality of life in a neighborhood of high-value homes.
What residents asked: Castillo, who said he organized a community watch, asked the city for regular code-enforcement inspections of the property, enhanced police patrols (particularly at night), and consideration of nuisance-abatement or other legal action if the property continues to generate criminal activity.
He described examples of recent incidents in which people with visible injuries or those carrying shower curtains moved through the neighborhood, and said the neighborhood had begun its own community watch to deter crime. Castillo thanked named officers who had responded and worked with residents.
Council action: No formal motion was recorded. Residents requested the city attorney and code-enforcement staff investigate possible nuisance-abatement options; the council did not announce a timeline or directive at the meeting.
Context and next steps: Castillo asked that the city coordinate inspections and enforcement and consider legal remedies to hold the property owner accountable. The meeting record shows residents asked for follow-up and credited the police for responding to calls, but they said enforcement alone has not solved the problem.
