Efforts underway to save some of the Old Spanish Town in Montecito
One area of the Montecito mudflow disaster, that dates back decades is having a tough time recovering, and a neighbor is hoping the community can help save the historic location.
It’s been called the Old Spanish Town off Highway 192 where Montecito Creek crossed at Para Grande.
The January 9 storm imploded the area with a wall of water and giant boulders that took several lives and pummeled properties. Some buildings are gone. Some were moved from their foundation.
Greg Duimovich has been helping his neighbors the Lopez family with a plan to clear the site and try to save structures.
There have been insurance and other financial issues that have been a setback that’s been difficult to overcome.
A Go Fund Me page has been established to help with the cleanup and hauling costs.
Duimovich recalls the site saying, “we had a dance hall on this side and there was a saloon up front up there and there was a building that was part of the old bank, built back in the 1800’s. I mean this is old old territory.”
During the disaster one home went 30-feet into the air, in pieces. Duimovich pointed up and said,
“and it ended up in that big oak tree. We took it down and it’s all just sitting there.”
He also said piles of debris and trees are twisted and stacked up on the property but none of it was there before. Wherever it came from, the Lopez family has to deal with it.
Duimovich says the site needs heavy equipment and a haul out plan.
Some of the residents who lost their homes here are gone, and others want to return if the structures can be saved.
Duimovich is going at it with whatever plan he can pull together saying, “by the time you guys all figure out who is going to give you ten cents, I am going to get rid of this pile for you. I will find out how we can make some money and I will physical do it and I will physically get my friends. I will call favors in.”
If you would like to help go to: https://www.gofundme.com/duimovich-lopez-rebuilding-home
