There are signs of life at Hadid’s infamous (and illegal) Bel Air mansion

Rumor has it Mohamed Hadid is continuing work on his 30,000-square-foot spec in Bel Air, despite the absence of permits.

Neighbors noticed lighting coming from the windows, as well as furniture and paintings hanging inside the troubled 901 Strada Vecchia “Starship Enterprise” mansion, the Beverly Hills Courier reported.

The site had all its permits revoked in 2015 – when there was no lighting, art or furniture in place — as a result of illegal, unpermitted construction. Hadid pled no contest in July to charges relating to the illegal construction. As a result, he was handed a sentence of 200 hours of community service hours and a fee of $17,000.

Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety first responded on Monday to claims of unpermitted work by claiming “corded lights used for construction…do not require a permit.” The following day, LADBS General Manager Frank Bush emailed residents saying, “Mr. Hadid was ordered to disconnect the electrical from the sub panel by today and to move out any/all furniture from the area by Friday.” Other managers have been assigned to monitor the project, Bush added.

Critics of the project have been contentiously arguing for the demolition of the site as a way for the city to buckle down on wealthy developers who break the rules. It remains unclear as to whether the property will be razed, or whether there is a chance of bringing the home to compliance. [BHC] – Natalie Hoberman