Last spring, UC Santa Barbara was gifted $7 million to purchase the 1.2-acre parcel across the street from the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence from Friendship Manor, a retirement community at 6647 El Colegio Road in Isla Vista.
Last spring, UC Santa Barbara was gifted $7 million to purchase the 1.2-acre parcel across the street from the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence from Friendship Manor, a retirement community at 6647 El Colegio Road in Isla Vista. Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo

The California Coastal Commission on Friday approved a new UC Santa Barbara housing project next to Friendship Manor in Isla Vista.

The three-story project at the corner of El Colegio Road and Camino Pescadero calls for 33 units, 33 parking spaces and 60 bicycle parking spots for graduate students, postdocs and researchers in UCSB’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Josh Rohmer, UCSB’s director of capital and physical planning, said the project will provide housing for staff, researchers and long-term visitors of the institute. 

“The project has been designed to meet the needs of future residents, support KITP’s world-class research and complement the surrounding community of Isla Vista,” Rohmer said. “We believe in the quality addition to the housing inventory in IV and the broader UCSB community.”

Because this is a university project in the coastal zone, it had to be reviewed by the Coastal Commission, rather than the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.

Last spring, the university was gifted $7 million to purchase the 1.2-acre parcel from Friendship Manor, a retirement community at 6647 El Colegio Road in Isla Vista. The site is across the street from the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence.

The site has been used as unofficial parking spaces for Friendship Manor residents. The university first approached the Friendship Manor Board of Directors about purchasing the property in 2024. After several rounds of negotiations, they accepted the university’s offer in spring 2025. 

Meagan Harmon, chair of the Coastal Commission and member of the Santa Barbara City Council, praised the project and the collaboration between UCSB and the community.

The three-story project will provide housing for graduate students, postdocs and researchers in UCSB’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.
The three-story project will provide housing for graduate students, postdocs and researchers in UCSB’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Credit: California Coastal Commission rendering

“This is exemplary of what we can do when we really put our heads together and think about getting through the process efficiently,” Harmon said. “This is a huge success, and it’s gonna be hugely impactful in our Santa Barbara community.”

ZGF Architects’ Los Angeles office will be designing the facility, including outdoor space for private use and for social activities for residents.

Construction is planned to start later this year to be completed in mid-2027.

The project, slated for the corner of El Colegio Road and Camino Pescadero, calls for 33 units, 33 parking spaces and 60 bicycle parking spots.
The project, slated for the corner of El Colegio Road and Camino Pescadero, calls for 33 units, 33 parking spaces and 60 bicycle parking spots. Credit: California Coastal Commission rendering

— Noozhawk staff writer Rebecca Caraway can be reached at rcaraway@noozhawk.com.