Demolition of fire-damaged Saddleback Inn building begins

SANTA ANA A burned out structure at the long-empty Saddleback Inn in Santa Ana on Tuesday began to crumble as crews took the first steps in demolition that could take as long as a month.

The city on Sept. 20 issued a notice to "repair or abate" the Saddleback Inn within 30 days, citing a litany of 50 "unlawful conditions" at the site that began with the fire-damaged south-side building, where workers focused their heavy equipment.

Workers use an excavator to break away part of the burned-out roof and a hose to keep the dust down, at the Saddleback Inn on First Street in Santa Ana, which the city has been calling a nuisance for nearly 20 years.

MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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While demolition of the building is certain, other aspects of the property at 1660 E. First St. remain cloudy. As the months unfold, it will be up to the owners of the Inn, the owners of the site it sits on, the city and now the courts to determine the fate of the nearly half-century old cluster of Spanish-themed buildings.

Santa Ana on Oct. 30 sued to place the Saddleback Inn property under a receiver who would see to it that repairs are made to fix what the city has for years contended are unsafe conditions, or to see to the property's demolition.

Named as defendants are Saddleback Inn LLC, which holds a leasehold interest in the property where the old four-building Inn sits, and the Elks Building Association of Santa Ana, which owns the 2.4-acre parcel. The parcel is adjacent to the Santa Ana Elks Lodge.

The lawsuit lists such problems as deteriorating buildings, inoperative plumbing, heating and air conditioning, rot and rust that it alleges endanger the health and safety of the public. It listed violation notices that date back to 1994.

The city contends that the Inn's owners failed to come up with a court-mandated plan to repair the property. An Orange County judge in April ordered the city to allow the owners of the inn the option to repair the property, but called on the owners to develop a timely schedule for repairs. The ruling vacated a decision by a city hearing officer last year that upheld a city order that Inn be demolished.

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Demolition of fire-damaged Saddleback Inn building begins