City order thrift store demolition
By Jesse Phelps

Ojai Community Development Director Robert Casias said he sent word to St. Thomas Aquinas Thrift Store owners Richard and Marilyn Malloy of Ventura on Thursday, ordering the demolition of their little building, located at the eastern end of the Arcade.

In issuing the order, the city played its trump card in what has become a well-publicized controversy.

The thrift store, which has stood in the same place since former St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners Chris Bickler and Heddi MacIntosh opened it on April 22 of 1971 with the proceeds from a rummage sale, is one of two in the town and has a dedicated staff and clientele.
Some community members have expressed their desire not to see a change while others consider the building at best an eyesore, at worst a danger.

The Malloys and the workers at the shop were unavailable for comment. It is unclear if any support exists to either sue for time or reopen the store in a new building, should demolition proceed on schedule.

Casias said that the city has received numerous complaints. Getting rid of the business, he said, has never been the point. It's the building that's got to go.

"We'd like to see the use continue," he said. "But once it's deemed unsafe, we have an obligation. We're trying to get rid of a dangerous building."

Casias said that in the event that the business goes under, the city has two other uses in mind. The site could become a small park or an exterior addition to Bonnie Lu's restaurant, if the owners are amenable.
The thrift store building isn't alone, however, in the crosshairs of the city.

The El Camino Motel, the site of an expansive and time-consuming remodel, has been ordered to clean up, said Casias. The effort is already underway. "It's about, I think, 75 percent better than last week," he said. "That's the good news. It's taking awhile, though. Hopefully, the finished project will turn out positive."

Also targeted is the home on the 400 block of Willow Street, which Casias characterized as "probably the worst residence in Ojai." A number of permanently parked cars were being removed, he said, but the property remains "full of debris."

Also slotted for code enforcement is a partially constructed property on Montgomery Street. Casias said neighbors have been complaining about the presence of rats.

"I know this all sounds like heavy-handed staff," said Casias, speaking to city planners Wednesday night. "It's what we're doing to benefit the community."

In a meeting that took less than 45 minutes to complete, the planners unanimously approved three agenda items.

All three items concerned residences and the waiver of setback requirements. In two cases, the applicants were looking to install pools and associated equipment. In the third case, the applicant wished to add a detached garage.

Staff found mitigating circumstances in each case, which allowed for the granting of the variances. All three lots come in below the minimum size requirements for their zones and in each case, the additions were found to be consistent with their neighborhoods.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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