Residents of the luxury Metropolis towers in downtown Los Angeles are facing the potential shutoff of essential utilities, including power and water, due to the developer's failure to pay millions of dollars in homeowners association (HOA) dues.
The Metropolis complex, located near the Crypto.com Arena, has been plagued by issues stemming from unpaid bills, leading to deteriorating maintenance and concerns for its residents.
In June 2019, property management company First Service alerted developer Greenland USA that the development's HOAs were "now officially out of money," vendors would "not perform services," and utilities were "at risk of being shut off." This warning came after residents discovered that the developer had exempted itself from paying thousands of dollars in monthly HOA dues on approximately 300 unsold units it retained.
Oleg Pariser, a resident of Tower I, learned that his building's HOA had less than $200,000 in reserves despite an operating budget of around $4 million. He also found that Greenland USA had not paid any HOA dues since 2018. The total amount of unpaid dues claimed by residents in court filings has reached $6.8 million.
This situation has resulted in multiple lawsuits, HOA liens, and a "desist and refrain" order from California's Department of Real Estate, prohibiting Greenland from selling additional units. As a result, a significant number of Metropolis units remain vacant.
Greenland USA, a subsidiary of China-based Greenland Holding Group, began construction on the Metropolis complex, which includes two condo towers, an apartment building, and a hotel, in 2014, with sales commencing in 2017. The complex was completed in 2019.
Pariser, an early buyer, joined the board of the Metropolis I HOA in 2019. He noted that many units were owned by individuals in mainland China and were often subleased. He raised concerns about the low reserve funds in the Master Association account, attributing the financial strain partly to the developer not paying dues on its unsold units.
In 2023, Pariser filed a small claims court complaint arguing that Greenland's control of the Master Association board, based on alleged illegal abatement agreements, was improper. His lawsuit contended that the developer's failure to pay assessments disqualified its representatives from serving on the board. In 2020 alone, the board granted Greenland over $1.2 million in abatements. Pariser won his case in 2024, voiding the 2022 election of Greenland representatives to the Master Association board.
In 2025, David Nealy, a resident of Tower II, challenged the Master HOA's 2024 election, leading a Los Angeles County judge to order a new election within 90 days. The Master HOA now indicates this election will occur in December.
Also in 2025, Nealy and fellow resident Nitin Bhatnager filed a lawsuit against the Metropolis Master Association, FirstService, and several board members, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and contract for failing to collect assessments from developer-owned units. The suit estimates Greenland owes over $6.8 million in unpaid dues and seeks damages, as well as the voiding of assessment abatement agreements.
The California Department of Real Estate issued a "desist and refrain" order in 2023 against Greenland USA for failing to disclose material changes, specifically developer-owned condo assessment abatements, in its public report filings. Greenland resubmitted its filings, and in December 2025, the DRE issued a new public report for Tower II, allowing sales to resume in that building, while sales in Tower I remain prohibited. The next hearing for Nealy and Bhatnager's case is scheduled for March 2027.
Despite the ability to sell units in Tower II, Greenland has not aggressively pursued sales. Until recently, developer-owned units in both towers were delinquent on property taxes, though records indicate 2025 taxes have been paid. All 50 developer-owned units in Tower I currently have HOA liens against them due to the developer no longer controlling that building's HOA.
Legal experts suggest that homeowners may need to pursue foreclosure actions to enforce HOA liens, a process that could be costly and time-consuming. Until then, the developer has little incentive to resolve the outstanding debts.
The financial issues have significantly impacted property values. Units in Tower I, once selling for over $800,000, are now listed for under $600,000. Residents like Nealy express a desire for better building management and a stronger homeowner voice, aiming to make the community a desirable place to live despite the ongoing challenges.