IRVINE : Family Moves Back to ‘Occupiable’ Castle

Three months after a last-minute deal saved the unfinished, castle-like home of Haym and Fern Ganish from demolition, city officials say safety code violations inside the stone-covered structure have been corrected and the family can move back into its house.

“It’s occupiable,” said Building and Safety Director Bob Storchheim. “It’s bare-bones. They have one bathroom working.”

The Ganishes and the city have often battled during the 13-year transformation of their ranch-style home into a three-story Tudor castle. After the Ganishes failed to meet a court-ordered deadline to correct safety code violations, the city was poised to demolish the home in March.

But Lake Forest topless-club owner Mark Bailey offered to post the required $65,000 bond and help the Ganishes bring the house up to code. Bailey said he sympathized with the Ganishes because of his own battles with city officials in Lake Forest.

As it turned out, Fern Ganish secured a loan from her mother to post the bond. Bailey hired the contractor and has supervised the construction work.

“This doesn’t mean the house has been completed,” City Atty. Joel D. Kuperberg said. “If they choose to live with concrete flooring, bare drywall and unpainted wooden stairs and handrails, those are not the kind of things the city regulates.”

Fern Ganish said Tuesday that her family has moved back into the Kron Street home. She declined further comment. The Ganishes have complained to the city about the quality of the work.

A Municipal Court judge previously issued a restraining order to prevent Haym Ganish from dismantling the construction work.

The Ganishes have until September, 1997, to complete the overall renovation of their home before their city building permit expires.