CARLSBAD — Plans for renovations to the historic Leo Carrillo Ranch are now under way as City Council agreed March 18 to seek bids for the restoration of an old barn located on the property.

Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, located off Flying

LC Lane near Melrose Drive, has been a city park since 2003.

At the meeting, council approved spending nearly $400,000 to make improvements to the barn’s foundation, as well as the walls and leaky roof.

According to information provided by park supporters, when renovations are completed, the Old Barn Theatre and Interpretive Center will be able to seat 70 and provide a sophisticated audio-visual, mulitmedia experience, as well as a place to hold concerts, lectures, meetings and field trips and special events.

“We regard this as the first step toward a small theater and an improved visitor’s center,” said Tony Carter from Friends of Carrillo Ranch, a group of supporters of the historic park.

Carter thanked council and said, “We’ve been knocking on your door for 18 years. We really appreciate it when you open the door a crack and let the light shine through.”

A master plan for the park was approved in 1999.

Council voted back in 2005 to accept grant funding in the amount of $197,535 from the Save America’s Treasures Federal grant program. The program required the city to match the funds. Total cost of the project is estimated to be $479,000.

In 2006, Heritage Architecture of San Diego was hired to prepare plans for the stabilization of the barn to meet the guidelines of the State Office of Historic Preservation and National Park Service.

Now that all the conditions have been met, work is expected to begin this summer and should be completed by the fall, city officials said.