The City of Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review (ARB) on November 10, 2025, voted to continue the La Cumbre Plaza Project indefinitely, citing concerns about the proposed architectural design.
Located at 3845 State Street, La Cumbre Plaza spans 31 acres and includes eight parcels, according to the City of Santa Barbara. Of the eight parcels, six are suitable for redevelopment with residential and mixed-use uses.
The proposal, also known as “La Cumbre South,” calls for the demolition of the 9.5-acre former Sears store and auto center to construct a 443-unit rental housing development in two four-story buildings.
Board members expressed strong dissatisfaction with the project’s current design, stating it did not reflect Santa Barbara’s traditional Spanish Colonial Revival or Mediterranean styles…