As Santa Barbara considers extending the State Street closure through Title 31, the community faces an important question: Are we making a permanent decision before the conditions for success exist?
The recently released State Street Master Plan presents an ambitious vision for downtown—a vibrant pedestrian-oriented district supported by 2,000 to 3,000 new housing units, greater residential density, improved public spaces, enhanced transportation options, and a stronger mix of businesses and amenities. It is a compelling vision. The question is whether Santa Barbara has reached that point today.
Six years after State Street was closed to vehicles, the answer remains unclear…