Cogan

Plaintiffs sought declaratory relief and an injunction in their effort to invalidate a portion of an assessment levied upon their property by the defendant city. The matter was heard by the trial court sitting without a jury and judgment was given to the defendant City of Los Angeles. Plaintiffs have appealed the judgment.

Many of the pertinent facts were stipulated to by the parties in the court below. On September 12, 1967, the City Council of Los Angeles adopted an ordinance setting forth its intention to improve four blocks of Reseda Boulevard (near Ingomar Street) between Saticoy and Strathern Streets. Reseda Boulevard was formerly known as Reseda Avenue and was originally a 50-foot-wide street. Over the years, substantial portions of Reseda Avenue were gradually widened to 100 feet by the defendant city. Reseda Avenue became Reseda Boulevard, a major thoroughfare running through the San Fernando Valley.

The proposed improvement project contemplated the widening of Reseda Boulevard between the described intersections to the uniform width of 100 feet, along with necessary grading, paving and construction.

Plaintiffs owned property within the improvement area, a lot…