After nearly two years of conflict between tenants of a West Beach apartment complex and their landlords, and following a quick two-day trial in court, the parties agreed to a settlement that marks a “decisive step forward” in the long-running dispute over the aging property, according to a statement released by attorneys representing the property owners.
Technically, the deal covers three tenants remaining in one of the three buildings at 215 Bath Street, a 52-unit complex purchased by business partners Austin Herlihy, Chris Parker, and James Knapp in the summer of 2023. A day after the owners took over, they served termination notices to tenants that sparked a community-wide debate over “renovictions.”
Property owners argued that the buildings were in dire need of upgrades, while tenants argued that the notices were illegal and banded together to fight for their right to stay with the help of advocates with the Santa Barbara Tenants Union and attorneys with the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Over the past two years, the property became a spark point in the community discourse over evictions and tenants’ rights, playing a part in the city’s updated eviction ordinance and the election of a more tenant-friendly city council…