Housing is a national crisis but a critical one in Santa Barbara. To preserve the charm and special character of our community, we have developed a process of delay and denial for new building projects, especially for new housing. Getting approval for any new project is costly, prolonged, and problematic.
The mindset in our community toward housing is changing as the development of a master plan for the revitalization of State Street has shown. Likewise, the efforts to house our lower-income workers are indicating a new attitude.
The production of housing is not an isolated challenge as the Community Environmental Council’s ecological Principles for the Downtown Core underscore. This Ecological Framework advocates an integrated development model that lays out an urban environment emphasizing the relationship between housing, mobility, shade trees, stormwater management, biodiversity, climate resilience, and the health, happiness, and inclusivity of people…