Paseo Nuevo Housing Project Still Alive Despite Frustrating City Hearing
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – One of the more complicated housing hearings in Santa Barbara history left all sides still willing to go forward as a way to convert a portion of the Paseo Nuevo Mall in downtown Santa Barbara.
The project has taken on several different looks in recent months with some fast moving changes in recent days. That upset several council members who were unclear of all the moving parts, paperwork, deals, one-on-one talks, closed-door meetings and ultimatum talk.
The plan presented Tuesday was for 203 market rate housing units, 24 low income units and a high end grocery story where the vacant Macy’s store sits on the corner of State St. and Ortega St. in downtown.
The previous plan for 80 affordable units nearby as part of this project is still unclear as a reality or possibility down the road.
The city and the financial company AB Commercial (AllianceBernstein) that is in the driver’s seat on the plan are trying to get to a “yes” vote as was mentioned many times during the meeting.
With the design reworked numerous times and what was thought to be a final take it or leave it offer, it had one Councilmember suspicious, based on changes in the last few weeks.
Meagan Harmon said, “so what assurances do I have that this is the last best and final if the deal has changed so significantly and I think that is pretty significant in the last couple of days to me, it is sort of putting the lie to this idea that every avenue for negotiations has been fully explored.”
Also, Councilmember (and Mayoral candidate) Kristen Snedden said in talks with the project proponents about affordable housing plans with the City Housing Authority, “Iasked the question, maybe three times you’re going to be building the building and handing the keys over to the Housing Authority and the answer was yes. What this agreement now says, we might just hand you a demolished lot which is a city asset and we might in five years maybe build it or not”
They also want the Macy’s side of the project to also be discussed in a larger context with another player on the other end of the mall in the vacant Nordstrom building. Shopoff has a 112 housing project planned there.
It was referred to as a three-legged stool and all three pieces need to be included in the broad discussion. That’s where the progress for this partial mall renovation is going now.
Mayor Randy Rowse is urging action now with the plan part of a vital rescue of a sluggish downtown area. He said, “let’s get something done. Downtown needs something to happen . We have been fallow for almost a decade in the mall we have been fallow on state street itself. We need to turn this around.”
There was even talk or looking into turning the whole land parcel back to the original owners, the Chumash Native Americans.
A local architect Brian Cearnel did a picture layover comparing this project to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the landmark was shrouded by the size, bulk and scale in a way no one had ever seen before. He said too much was stacked on the Ortega St. side and housing should be shared throughout the Paseo like a design you would see in Spain.
(More details, video and pictures will be added here later today.)
brian barnwell
planning commissioner
“in all my time i don’t remember a unanimous negative vote from the planning commission a that’s what we gave this.”
track one
. the
. but it’s
track two
. the
kristen sneddon
santa barbara city council
i aske
.
. but n.
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brian cearnel
the cearnal collective
“here is our courthouse super imposed to scale over the building i think that says it all .”
“….this is simply too big…..by the way it is not 75 feet it’s 88 feet”
track four
. afte
randy rowse
santa barbara mayor
“… let’s get something done. downtown needs something to happen . we have been fallow for almost a decade in the mall we have been fallow on state street… itself. we need to turn this around.”
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