City official: Krikorian theater site inspected 'on daily basis'

Residents have expressed concern about the condition of the wall framing at the Krikorian theater site.

 
By Doug Spoon, Editor

City of Menifee Building and Safety inspectors monitor the Krikorian theater site at Menifee Town Center "on a daily basis" to ensure its safety during the construction delay, a City official said.

In response to an inquiry from Menifee 24/7, City Public Information Officer Dominique Samario said, “The site has been secured and it is currently inactive, which means no construction activity is taking place at the property and no people are on the site. If anything changes regarding activity on the site, City staff would be aware and respond accordingly to ensure building and safety requirements are being met.”

Menifee 24/7’s inquiry was made following many messages from concerned residents who have noticed how one corner of the theater walls is leaning and appears ready to collapse. Menifee 24/7 has reported previously that the walls are only foam framing blocks, but the fact they continue to be shored up by metal supports is of concern to many.

Construction on the Krikorian Theater complex began last December but stopped in April, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened. At the time, Krikorian Premier Theaters owner George Krikorian said that the project relies on phased funding sources. The uncertain length of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown of movie production has made lenders reluctant to issue additional loans because there is no guarantee when the theater will be able to generate the revenue needed to pay off the loans, he said.

In an August interview with Menifee 24/7, Krikorian said he hoped the project would resume in time for an opening in the fall of 2021. Now, with COVID-19 numbers worsening, no timeline is certain. Krikorian did not respond last week to an interview request by Menifee 24/7.

The wall frames are products of Fox Blocks, which describes on its website that the blocks are “insulated concrete forms” that are strengthened when filled with concrete. It appears, however, that only the bottom layer of blocks was filled before construction halted, meaning the majority of foam blocks are connected but are hollow inside.

Meanwhile, construction is ongoing at a site just to the west of the Krikorian property. That project, being developed by Tourmaline Capital, will include a Sprouts market and other tenants yet to be named. Construction crews access that property through a gate on Newport Road where there will eventually be an entrance at Calle Tomas.

A reporter recently found that gate open. There is fencing around the Krikorian project bordering Newport Road and Town Center Drive, but no fence separating the Krikorian site from the Sprouts projects.

Menifee 24/7’s inquiry to the City of Menifee included the question of whether that could be a safety hazard and what, if any, liability the City would have if someone got onto the Krikorian property and was injured.

“Because the site is locked and fenced off to prevent access, if someone did enter the site inappropriately, it would be trespassing,” Samario responded in an email. “If the site were open and any time inspectors are on site, hard hats are/would be required per Cal/OSHA guidelines.

“The construction sites have common utilities and, because of this, at times access is required for appropriate construction workers.”

According to city attorney Jeffrey Melching, “In general, the City does not have legal liability for conditions created or existing on private property, such as the Krikorian site.” Samario added, however, that the City “is monitoring this site regularly because it prioritizes public health and safety.”

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