Demolition Order Awaits Decision on Who Will Pay

This photo, taken by city staff, shows the damage to the home at 23831 Kennedy Lane that has been vacant since 2010.

The Menifee City Council voted unanimously last week to authorize the first demolition of a structure since the city incorporated in 2008. The question now becomes, who will pay for it?

The house, located at 23831 Kennedy Lane in the Quail Valley community of Menifee, has been abandoned since 2010 and was severely damaged by fire last June, said Wayne O'Gara of the city's code enforcement department during the council meeting. It has been the site of 11 code violations and has been occupied by squatters at various times.

O'Gara said the city made multiple attempts in recent months to contact the bank that owns the foreclosed property with no response. The day of the council meeting, however, the law firm representing the lender contacted the city, said Colin McNie, code enforcement director.

According to McNie, the lender "hasn't decided on their options" regarding the property. However, according to city attorney Jeffrey Melching, the bank acknowledges that the damaged property is a safety issue.

"The only question is whether the city performs the demolition and litigates for reimbursement of the cost, or whether the city negotiates with the lender to get them to pay for it," Melching said.

Either way, the property has officially been declared a public nuisance and demolition of the house appears to be in the near future..

"It's not the police department's duty to supervise that property," said Will Cooley, who said he lives behind the residence. "We just want it torn down. I've been there three years fighting this. It's going to ruin our property value."