Mission LLC, the developers working on the two Santa Barbara Riviera projects that were sanctioned under builder’s remedy, have now sued the county over unpaid taxes, claiming that they rent to a church. They are also claiming a connection to the religious group in question — Unitarian Universalist Mission — who deny it.
Highlights
- Mission LLC is claiming tax exemption for church rental; the Unitarian group has denied ties.
- Santa Barbara County has denied all exemptions, citing non-exclusive religious use of the property.
- Real estate advisor Ben Eilenberg is linked to both The Mission LLC and the church filing.
Developers are Claiming Church Rental Tax Exemption, Unitarian Universalist Mission Refuses Claims
The five-acre project that Mission LLC has been developing has come under fire several times over the last year. The property owners have proposed an eight-story project under the builder’s remedy provision of the state housing law. This allows developers to bypass any zoning restrictions if they include affordable units.
Now, the owners of the project have filed a lawsuit against Santa Barbara County regarding property tax payments. The county records reflect approximately $198,600 in unpaid property taxes for The Mission LLC…