Santa Barbara Plaza on Milpas Street in Santa Barbara is going to get an entire overhaul.
The shopping center at 29 S. Milpas St. once housed Trader Joe’s and Petco, but now sits mostly empty, with a Rite Aid and bagel shop serving as two of the center’s most prominent businesses.
The Santa Barbara Architectural Board of Review on July 1 voted 5-0 to approve a remodel and redesign of the center as it aims to attract new tenants and recapture its luster.
“We have secured what we think is a great tenant for that side of town, a grocery store, and so we are anxious to be able to submit our building permits to the Planning Department as soon as possible,” said Randy Poltl, managing partner of the shopping center.
S&P Investments has owned the shopping center since 1990.
“When it looked good, we were very proud of it,” Poltl said. “Right now it doesn’t look very good. It doesn’t speak very well for the city. It’s a gateway project.”
On Monday, the parking lot sat mostly vacant, with many people sitting inside their parked cars sleeping, eating or talking on their cell phones.
The project consists of a façade remodel including new colors, copper gutters, sandstone bases, and extended eaves. Plans call for a 33-foot-tall entry tower for the new Sprouts grocery store. The developers plan to reconfigure the parking lot circulation, add new bicycle parking, new landscaping and lighting, and improve drainage.
They also plan to add queen palms, similar to the ones on Cabrillo Boulevard, in front of the plaza.
“Our idea is to bring back a more classic Santa Barbara-style look,” Poltl said. “It’s a gateway location for the Milpas Street corridor. We know it is important, and we look forward to beautifying it and bringing it back to life.”
Santa Barbara City Councilman Jason Dominguez is looking forward to the changes.
“I’m thrilled about both the beautification of this property and the healthy food choices that will benefit our community’s overall health and well-being,” Dominguez said. “This Milpas corner is a gateway to thriving neighborhoods and a business corridor beloved by locals. With thousands of fresh, organic products, Sprouts will benefit families committed to healthy living. The renewal of the property, with architectural revisions, new palm trees, a resurfaced parking lot, and refreshed landscaping and signage, will be very appreciated.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.