Leo Carrillo barn project up for council vote

By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer
Carlsbad considers ranch improvements | Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:45 PM PDT ∞

CARLSBAD ---- A long-planned renovation of the historic wooden barn at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park may finally soon begin.

Carlsbad's City Council is slated to vote Tuesday to seek construction bids.

"It's just a start of course," said Alan Kindle, one of the leaders of the Friends of Carrillo Ranch organization, as he discussed the council's agenda item.

If the council votes to seek bids and those bids are within the budget, then there might be contractors at the site by midsummer, he said.

That's the goal, agreed city park planner Liz Ketabian.

"They'll probably be done in the fall," she added.

Located on Flying LC Lane in eastern Carlsbad near Melrose Drive, the old ranch is on both state and federal historic preservation lists. It's been open to the public since 2003.

The place was once home to Hollywood actor Leo Carrillo, who played Pancho in "The Cisco Kid" TV series in the 1950s. Carrillo built a rustic, Spanish-style hacienda on the property and used the place to entertain Hollywood celebrities.

Many buildings from those bygone days remain at the ranch. The trouble is that some of the buildings are in better condition than others --- the barn being one example.

A city staff report indicates that $395,070 has been set aside for barn repairs, and half of the money comes from a federal historic preservation grant. Plans call for improving the barn's foundation, walls, roofing, exterior stairs and entry doors, among other things, the staff report states.

The Friends of Leo Carrillo organization wants the work to be the first of a two-part project. After the restoration work ends, the group want the city to immediately embark on an effort to turn the inside of the building into a visitors' center and theater where some of Carrillo's old movies can be shown.

Kindle will be at Tuesday's 6 p.m. council meeting at City Hall to remind people about the second half of the job, he said.

"You have to take the first step before you can take the second step," he said. "Our job is to keep the second step (in front of) the council so they don't forget it."

The second half of the job is estimated to cost $500,000, Ketabian said.

To view the staff report and other meeting agenda items, visit: www.carlsbadca.gov/chall/4councilmtg.html

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