CORONADO, Calif. - The Spreckels Mansion in Coronado is on the market, and a local realtor told 10News he believes the tragic events that happened at the home two years ago won't affect its sale.
The home, considered one of San Diego County's most famous properties, bears little resemblance to how it looked when the incident in 2011 took place.
The owners who bought the home from pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai spent several million dollars to give the mansion a complete makeover.
The idea behind the makeover was to bring back the home's original glory.
John D. Spreckels built the home in 1901. He had inherited a sugar empire from his father, and then made millions more on his own.
Caylee Pinsonneault, the interior designer, said the plan started out simple, and then grew and grew.
"We were just going to do some paint and a little bit of remodeling of the bathrooms and it kind of snowballed each … a few months later, let's do the kitchen; OK, let's do the pool …," she said.
The pool and adjoining Jacuzzi are new, and they are located in between the main house and the guest house.
It was at the guest house were Shacknai's brother, Adam, was staying when he found Rebecca Zahau hanging from a balcony.
Some may think Zahau's death and the fact that Shacknai's young son, Max, died several days after falling from a staircase at the home might be a negative when it comes to selling the house.
Realtor Scott Aurich, however, said that isn't the case.
"The people looking to buy this house think of it as … what they can use it for and how it fits their needs, and the location and the opportunity that's here because it's a one-of-a-kind asset," said Aurich.
Other brand-new features at the home include a new roof and a state-of-the-art kitchen. The master suite on the second floor was completely redone from two bedrooms into one with a large master bathroom.
One more floor up, what used to be a storage attic has been transformed into a home theater, along with a pool table.
The home's listing price: $16.9 million.
Aurich said that price is actually a bargain.
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