Residents fear nearby abandoned property poses fire risk

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) - Residents at a senior community in Cathedral City say they are worried an abandoned neighboring property could pose a serious fire danger.

The concern centers around the former KGX Broadcast Center off Dinah Shore Drive — a property covered in dried vegetation and lined with towering tamarisk trees.

Elizabeth Cunneff, who lives at Mountain View Apartments next door, says the issue has persisted for years.

“It’s been abandoned for as long as I’ve lived here and I’ve lived here for eight years,” she said. “We don’t know who the owners are, we really cannot reach them to ask them to please take care of this dry, dangerous mess.”

The property is covered in dried vegetation and surrounded by tall tamarisk trees — conditions Cunneff fears could quickly become dangerous for the elderly and disabled residents living nearby.

“These trees are about 50 feet tall. They’re highly flammable and this is an elderly and disabled community here just next door that only have one exit to their apartment,” she said.

Cunneff also says she has recently noticed signs of people entering the property after part of a fence appeared damaged.

“This is recent, only recently in the last week have I seen this fence pulled down,” she said. “Obviously unhoused people are making use of this property but they have been so for years.”

News Channel 3 took those concerns to the City of Cathedral City.

A city spokesperson says the property is currently under a code enforcement investigation and the owner has already been cited for violations. However, officials say the case is temporarily on hold while the property owner appeals the city’s decision.

Because the matter remains active, the city says it cannot comment further.

Cunneff says she has repeatedly contacted code enforcement over the past two years but feels little progress has been made.

“I’ve been calling Code Enforcement for two years,” she said. “I got a response once… but there’s that ‘I’m sorry we can’t do anything’… that’s all I ever hear.”

According to Cunneff, she was told the cost of removing the trees may be part of the challenge.

Still, she says action needs to be taken before conditions worsen.

“Maintain it. Take those trees out, those trees have got to go,” she said.

The city says it has received several complaints regarding the property and has been updating residents throughout the process.

News Channel 3 was unable to reach the property owner for comment.

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