Kanye West's abandoned Northridge church property, purchased for $1.5 million in early 2023, is now the subject of a suspected arson investigation after it was destroyed in an October 2024 blaze. The fire, which occurred shortly after midnight on October 14, leveled the former Cornerstone Christian Church residence and has sparked renewed scrutiny of West's troubled real estate holdings and mounting tax debts.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety confirmed it had inspected the property twice this year and filed liens for unpaid inspection fees, according to The Sun US. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Fire Department has launched an inquiry into the cause of the fire, which burned for more than 30 minutes and caused minor damage to a neighboring home. No injuries were reported.
The property, once considered a potential expansion site for West's shuttered Donda Academy or a Yeezy brand facility, had fallen into neglect and disrepair. Neighbors repeatedly complained about boarded-up windows, trash piles, and the risk of squatters. "I had no idea Kanye bought it but ... it's not a good look for the neighborhood," one local resident said. "He needs to clean it up, you don't want a bum breaking in and living there."
Drone footage taken after the fire shows the site reduced to scorched debris. A yellow caution tape cordons off the fenced-in property, now covered in graffiti, with "no trespassing" signs tacked to nearby trees. The site's decay and destruction mark a stark contrast to earlier Google Maps images showing a tree-shaded residence separated from the Cornerstone Church campus by palm trees.
Prior to the fire, the building had already drawn controversy. Over 12,000 people signed a petition opposing the church's sale to West due to his history of antisemitic remarks. Despite this, West acquired the building through connections with former Cornerstone pastor Ronald Nagin, who had rented space to West and reportedly allowed church rooms to be used for his presidential campaign and Yeezy apparel operations.
West's broader property portfolio is also under financial pressure. He currently faces $448,254 in tax liens across multiple properties, including the Northridge parcel. That figure includes penalties from unpaid 2025 taxes and previous assessments. The Northridge church alone has accrued $49,200 in unpaid taxes, along with $358 in monthly fines.
The largest outstanding debt stems from his derelict $6.7 million Yeezy headquarters on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. That property is carrying $202,287 in unpaid taxes, compounded by monthly penalties of $1,435. Recent images from the site show workers removing the roof and mounds of trash and debris scattered throughout the interior. Despite these visible activities, it remains unclear whether West intends to redevelop or sell the property.
West, 47, has not publicly commented on the fire or his growing tax obligations. A representative for the artist has not responded to media inquiries. West is reportedly in Spain following public backlash over recent controversial statements and the release of a contentious interview with Piers Morgan.
