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Francheschi Park Renovation
| As with most things Santa Barbara we have a controversy. The latest involves the restoration of the Francheschi House into a place for educational tours both self-guided and led by docents, horticulture classes and private events such as weddings and business conferences. The plan has a maximum of 30 people to be allowed at the special events. The primary issue is that the residents see the restoration as inserting a business into a small residential neighborhood. The Santa Barbara City Council is set to decide the fate of the park at a 6PM meeting tonight. The home and park, located on 17 acres of hillside on the Riviera named after horticulturist Francesco Francheschi was originally constructed in 1905. Extensive additions were made in the 1920s after Alden Freeman purchased the property. In 1931 the, philanthropist donated the home and its land to the city. The nonprofit Pearl Chase Society is waiting for the council to adopt the plan so that it can launch an aggressive fund-raising campaign to restore the house. Pearl Chase Society President Barbara Chen Lowenthal said the group has a goal f raising about $2.1 million and a $200,000 endowment. |