Answers:

Urban Redevelopment Strategies for Santa Barbara

In Santa Barbara, urban redevelopment strategies focus on increasing housing density, preserving historic resources, and enabling diverse business opportunities while balancing affordability and sustainability.

Increasing Density and Incentivizing Conversions

Office Conversion and Density Incentives

• Peter Lewis: Advocates for incentivizing office conversions and increasing building density and height to accommodate more residential units.

Ensuring Certainty and Timeliness

• John Campanella: Emphasizes the need for a streamlined approval process and adequate base density. Proposes incentives for providing inclusionary housing units or allowing for in-lieu fee alternatives.

Reduced Parking and Open Yard Requirements

• Cass E.: Highlights that removing parking requirements and reducing open yard requirements allows for more building units. Cites evidence from charrette 2020 studies indicating that three levels of housing are essential for project viability. Stresses the importance of protecting and preserving historical resources to maintain Santa Barbara's unique character.

Affordability and Local Developer Preference

Decoupling Parking and Living Units

• Dennis Allen: Suggests decoupling parking spaces from living units to increase affordability and discourage excessive car ownership. Recommends favoring local developers familiar with Santa Barbara to ensure projects align with community values. Highlights the importance of forming partnerships between government, private sectors, and non-profits to reduce financing costs.

Key Cost Factors and Infrastructure Needs

• Eli Isaacson: Identifies land costs, construction costs, and labor as significant factors influencing redevelopment efforts.
• Susanne Tejada: Points to affordability and infrastructure improvements as crucial components of urban redevelopment strategies.

Housing Diversity and Amenities

• Tess Harris: Argues for housing that caters to all income levels and increased downtown density. Advocates for amenities that attract renters and property owners, such as park-like settings, art installations, storage solutions, and areas for children and pets. Also supports the redevelopment of existing buildings to create multiple rental spaces, making downtown more accessible to startups and small businesses.