The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with plans to build workforce housing on county-owned land in downtown Santa Barbara.
The board authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for a new housing project at 117 E. Carrillo St., the site of the Probation Department, which is set to relocate to a new facility by late 2026. Supervisors also gave direction on tenant income eligibility and decided on an all-electric design for the project.
During a presentation to the board, county staff described the Carrillo Street project as a proof of concept for a public-private development model that could be used again in the future…