The California Coastal Commission rejected an appeal this week against the construction of a new 250-room hotel in the City of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone neighborhood. The project, which faced opposition from local group Keep the Funk and Steven Johnson, is slated to proceed as planned.
The commission addressed concerns that the hotel development could worsen onsite soil and groundwater contamination. The issues brought forward included the exacerbation of these problems due to the site’s susceptibility to both flooding and sea level rise.
Nevertheless, the detailed report placed in front of the commissioners by the City showed they possessed “sufficient evidence to conclude that the project conformed with the flood and coastal hazard policies.”
The hotel development is an ambitious project of the Wright Family H. Limited Partnership, located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, an area ripe for transformation. The project’s approval is the culmination of a deal made back in 1983 when real estate developer Bill Wright agreed to donate a portion of land for road development in exchange for rights to build a beachfront hotel.
The extensive proposal for a three-story hotel encompasses 4.5 acres between Garden and Yanonali Streets, extending to the railroad tracks and towards the corner of Santa Barbara and Mason Streets. The development plan includes merging six lots, substantiating the majority of the 100 block, which currently encompasses notable establishments such as the former Michael Kate Contemporary Furniture, Topa Topa, and Lama Dog buildings.
With the green light from the commission, the project will lead to the demolition of five existing structures to make way for the hotel. This establishment aims to offer a variety of amenities, including a library, bar, lounge, market, media salon, meeting rooms, multiple outdoor seating areas with a spa, courtyards with a pool and spa, fitness room, and a roof deck.
Of the 250 rooms, 120 are designated as standard hotel accommodations, the rest are designed as “extended stay” units, featuring larger bathrooms, kitchens, and sleeper sofas. Moreover, the development will include six “bonus density affordable employee housing units.”
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It’s a good project and a big improvement on what’s there now.
Just what we need – another massive hotel. Can you say water shortage, or traffic mess? I suppose the developers will be building in some affordable housing for all the workers manning this monstrosity so they’re not stuck on 101 day after day? Uh, nope.
That being said, the Commission didn’t really have a realistic reason on their side to deny this particular project. The real problem is City Hall’s pro-hotel trend here. One after another…ruining our nice city.
Man, 250 rooms is “yuge”. How many PARKING spaces are proposed? – Major problem in good ol SB – anyone know how many spaces?
I like the idea of extended stay rooms.
Hopefully they will work for families.