The owner of a huge abandoned home on Plum Street in Point Loma has been ordered by a judge to fix, sell or demolish it.
Francisco Mendiola owns an unfinished mansion at 1676 Plum St. that has been in a state of “perpetual remodel” for more than seven years. He’s pled guilty to obstructing a public right-of-way by building a perimeter construction fence that enclosed city sidewalks and a stop sign.
Mendiola now has 30 days to tell the court whether he plans to demolish, develop or sell the structure at the corner of Plum and Lowell streets, said Gerry Braun, City Attorney spokesman.
“If he elects to develop it — meaning he would complete the job that was first permitted in 2007 — he must adhere to a strict timetable or be in violation of the terms of his three-year probation,” said Braun in a released statement.
The saga of 1676 Plum St. has long infuriated neighbors in the Point Loma community, both because the stalled remodel created an eyesore and because Mendiola placed stairs on a public right-of-way and built a perimeter construction fence that enclosed city sidewalks and a stop sign, the City Attorney’s office said.
The Code Enforcement Unit of the City Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit against Mendiola in August 2014. Point Lomans hailed the judicial decision as a major step forward.
Two Peninsula Community Planning Group members, Don Sevrens and Jon Linney, respectively, weighed in on the decision.
“The legal documents set a specific course,” said Sevrens, cautioning, “But given seven years of ignoring the law, compliance will always be a concern to the neighbors until it is all over. The solution is stronger Municipal Code provisions to prevent such abuses.”
“This is a pivotal moment for a neighborhood effort to remove an eyesore that has been inflicted upon the area for more than seven years,” said Linney. “Congratulations to the neighborhood and to Jerry Lohla, the activist who helped coordinate the effort.”
According to Linney, there are easily more than 100 such ugly, unfinished dinosaurs that are blots on San Diego neighborhoods. “These unfinished and perhaps never-to-be-finished, construction projects make it impossible for nearby homeowners to sell their properties at anywhere near their real value,” he added.
Linney also praised the hard work of Deputy City Attorney Danna Nicholas on the lawsuit against Mendiola. He added he and Lohla have discussed possible “fixes” by the city, noting they both agreed there needs to be changes made to ensure “fair but strict deadlines on projects with major exterior changes and perhaps completion bonds posted on projects above a certain value.”
Under terms of his probation, Mendiola must fix all violations cited in the complaint, correct all future violations within five days, allow City inspectors on the property with 24 hours’ notice, and adhere to the development timeline.
Failure to comply will result in his being found guilty of all charges in the complaint – including creating a public nuisance – and being subject to fine and custody.
“Perpetual remodels like this degrade the quality of our neighborhoods and can quickly become attractive nuisances and magnets for crime,” City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said. “People who get building permits need to show respect for the community by following the law and completing the work on time.”