SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission will conduct an electronic public hearing at 1:30 p.m. June 10 to review a construction proposal that would merge two buildings on the city’s list of Potential Historic Resources.
The proposed project plans to merge the properties of 710-720 State St. and 15-19 E. Ortega Street to create a 30,004 square foot lot. The buildings are adjacent to the News-Press, which is a designated City Landmark constructed in 1922.
The two buildings on the city’s list of Potential Historic Resources threatened by the proposal were both reconstructed in 1925. The first building, 714 State St., was designed by architects Roland Sauter and Keith Lockard. The second, 718 State St., was designed by Soule Murphy and Hastings.
In addition to merging the two buildings, the proposal will demolish the commercial building at 710 State St. and 15-19 E. Ortega St. to make room for construction of a 39,600 square foot mixed-use building.
According to the Historic Landmarks Commission’s public notice, “The new building will comprise 2,320 square feet of commercial space and 36 rental units (7 studios, 17 one-bedrooms, 8 two-bedrooms, 4 three-bedrooms) averaging 711 square feet per unit using the city’s average unit-size density incentive program.”
The notice also states the proposal will have 15 residential parking spaces, one commercial parking space, a trash enclosure, transformer and bicycle parking.
For more information, call assistant planner Pilar Plummer at 805-564-5470, ext. 2687.
