IRVINE : Court to Take Up ‘Castle’ Issue Again

The city’s plans to demolish the castle-like home belonging to Haym and Fern Ganish on Tuesday are again on hold.

An Orange County Superior Court commissioner on Wednesday set a Jan. 18 date to hear an appeal by Fern Ganish. She is seeking more time to comply with city deadlines for completion of what is now a 12-year remodeling job.

“She wants to save the house,” said attorney John Barthrop. “The problem is, the family doesn’t have the money to finish it by hiring a contractor. They’re trying to do the work themselves.”

Barthrop said Haym Ganish is working day and night to bring his three-story, stone-covered home into compliance with building and safety codes. The family has battled with city officials during the last dozen years over the on-again, off-again transformation of the single-story home into a baroque castle.

City officials say the home is unsafe and in violation of state building codes.

Fern Ganish pleaded no contest last month to criminal charges filed against her by the city. The compromise agreement gave her one year to complete renovations. Her husband, Haym Ganish, refused to take part in the settlement.

But Fern Ganish was required to submit new building plans and a $50,000 bond to the city by Dec. 9.

“The system we set up required them to make certain time deadlines,” Irvine City Atty. Joel D. Kuperberg said. “They missed the very first deadline.”

Barthrop says Fern Ganish is unable to post a $50,000 bond. But he also says she is sincere in attempting to complete renovations inside the home as soon as possible.

But city officials say the latest legal motion filed by Fern Ganish does not give the city any assurance the work will be completed.

“There’s no reason to delay this thing,” Kuperberg said.