Fess Parker's Waterfront
Edhat compilation of history and news coverage
by Leah Etling

Shull Memorial Foundation Hostel

If it seems like sometimes development in Santa Barbara moves at a glacial pace, one need only look as far as the Fess Parker Waterfront Hotel project to have these suspicions confirmed.

Locals have known that Parker, who in his youth was a Disney star in feature films like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, wanted to build a second hotel along the waterfront since 1983. This was at the same time he submitted plans for what was first a Red Lion Resort when it opened in 1986, and now is known as Fess Parker's Doubletree, a popular spot for conferences, weddings, and luxury hotel stays.

The Parker family also owns a hotel and winery in Los Olivos . In 2004, Parker considered partnering with the Santa Ynez Chumash tribe to build a hotel and Hope Ranch-style housing development at the intersection of Highways 154 and 246, but that project was abandoned after a community uproar.

The City of Santa Barbara cut a deal with Parker during the approval for the Doubletree that required him to construct a youth hostel before he built a second hotel. The intent was to provide an affordable option for students and budget travelers to offset the impact of 150 more luxury hotel rooms on the City market.

In the late 1990s, Parker decided that he wanted the second hotel to be even bigger than he had received approval for. He asked the City, and they said no. So, he took the idea to the voters in the form of a ballot measure in 1999. The voters turned him down, too.

Parker told one area publication that he does "love a good spat", and didn't mind that it had taken 14 years to get the new hotel plans approved.

Construction on the hotel broke ground in November 2007. The project description includes a 150 room hotel on 3.4 acres. It halted, however, less than a year later. City planning head Paul Casey said he was not concerned, and that work on the youth hostel was moving forward.

Writing about the lack of progress on the project in November 2008, columnist Barney Brantingham cited the reason for the work slowdown as lack of financing.

The 100- bed Rodney Shull Memorial Foundation Hostel is located at12 E. Montecito Street. Just before ground broke on the project in April 2008, Parker stood up at a local Rotary Club meeting and said that he would rather pay the city $5 million cash, with the money earmarked for combating gang violence, than build the hostel.

He wrote a piece that was published in the Independent outlining the idea, stating: "Is there a greater benefit to the community in building a hostel, or in using funds from the sale of the land toward gang violence prevention? The community must call for redirection of these assets if they believe it is the right thing to do. Due to contractual obligations, the construction of the hostel must begin on March 1, 2008, unless relief is granted by the Coastal Commission.

"This is not about Fess Parker making a buck. In reality, I would be losing hundreds of thousands of dollars already spent on the hostel project in plans and architects, etc. This is about the community of Santa Barbara rallying around a sense of self-preservation. It presents the community with a clear, responsive action."

The idea did not move forward. Today, the hostel project is partially finished. (See photo.) The structure is complete, but the roof is not done, and the exterior walls are bare concrete. Work does not appear to be proceeding on the project.

Looking for a due date

According to an undated item published on Parker's website, the hotel project is on schedule.

"We are pleased to report that our new 'Five-Star' 'Fess Parker's Santa Barbara Waterfront Hotel' continues on schedule," the letter from Parker to his fans says on a page that includes a photo of the aging actor sitting in a bulldozer.

"Well as you can see we have finally broken ground on the new hotel. I've been working on this project since 1993 and I am pleased to be entering into the construction phase, although I can assure you that my manning of the heavy machinery was strictly symbolic. We have a tight construction schedule to keep as we are hoping to open the property in fall 2009, and my children tell me that I drive far too slowly, even when I am driving an excavator."

The letter goes on to say that the property will be "a destination for leisure travelers looking for luxury accommodations on the beautiful Santa Barbara coastline" and will include 4,000 square feet of meeting space for corporate gatherings, and a restaurant, lounge, pool, fitness and spa services.

On Parker's website biography, the stated date for the opening of the Waterfront Hotel is 2004.

A list of the companies retained to work on the project includes: ADMI, project management services; Henry Lenny Design Studio, concept designer; Gensler & Associates, finalize construction drawings and submit Grading, Site Development, Site Utilities, Foundation and Core and Shell Packages to the city; Wilson and Associates, Interior Design services; Melchiori Construction Company, General Contractor. Melichiori has a project management area with multiple trailers set up in the back corner of the Doubletree parking lot.

Edhat sent an email to Parker's media relations spokesperson to try to find out the status of the project. She emailed back and said that she does not handle inquiries about the hotel, and does not know who does. We sent another email to the Parkers to try to figure out where to direct our questions. We had received no reply at the time this article was published. If and when we receive a reply to our inquiry, we will add it to this article.

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