A Doug's Life: Ghost town, tumbleweeds, and City Hall

Commentary by Doug Spoon, Editor

The Krikorian theater building is on death row, but the retail corner lot has been given a reprieve.

In the same press release announcing a threat of demolition of the unfinished theater walls, the City of Menifee said that the two structures on the corner of Newport Road and Town Center Drive will remain. So because George Krikorian applied for those building permits in order to save at least part of his investment, there remains a future for the block of fast food places, nail salons, or whatever the man can convince to eventually move in on that corner of the lot.

The question is, how long does that site remain a ghost town? Removing the eyesore of the theater building removes only part of the public nuisance. Whether the retail space gets that legal designation or not, the blight will continue until permits are approved, plan checks are complete, and construction resumes.

And we have no idea how long that will take.

Speaking on behalf of the Community Development Department, Assistant City Manager Rochelle Clayton said Friday that no deadline has been set for resumption of the work on the retail site. Furthermore, she said that “the current submittal is being processed as a standard review.”

Standard? How is anything about this project standard? Finish off those suckers as fast as possible. Expedite the process. Move those files to the top of the pile. Tell the planners “This is the most important thing you’ll do all year.”

It’s not that we want to do Krikorian a favor by giving him his rental space any sooner. It’s for the residents who have to look at the place. Menifee Town Center is supposed to be the crown jewel of downtown. Instead, it’s the butt of jokes.

If the retail pads are going to stay like this much longer, they might as well make the ghost town legitimate. That’s how Knott’s Berry Farm got started. Throw in some mannequins with cowboy hats and charge admission. Or set the place up as a haunted house for Halloween.

But if you’re going to take credit for ordering demolition of the theater, go all the way and build some real credibility with the residents. Give Krikorian the tightest deadlines possible on his retail project. And give your city planners the same. Turn that site from a wasteland into something presentable, and do it fast.

And while you’re at it, City officials, do your best to attract attractive businesses. No more McDonald’s or the like. I’m not saying bring Trader Joe’s, because I know that’s not going to happen. Just find some shops people actually want to patronize for reasons other than to stuff their faces with cheeseburgers (and yes, I’m guilty of that too).

I know that a full inspection of the ghost town is part of the process of moving forward. Please do that so we can feel safe walking into the place one day. And maybe one of the shops could have a corner devoted to old photos and memorabilia. You could display one of those foam blocks from the theater walls, a few tumbleweeds, and a section of the green fence that’s falling down.

As one of my teachers used to say, you don’t learn from the past unless you make mistakes. And boy, was this ever one.