A home run. 

That’s what Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commissioner Cass Ensberg said about the Lobero Theatre’s plans to construct a new three-story building at the back of the theater with rooftop deck and bar, rehearsal hall, and office space. 

The rest of the commission didn’t argue with her and was generally supportive of the project during a conceptual review hearing on Wednesday. 

“I realized coming down Anacapa Street, the size and scale of this and how it’s been designed, it almost blends into the balance going up the street of the other buildings,” Ensberg said. “It doesn’t look like, necessarily, an addition, it’s just a continuation of the downtown.”

The Lobero Theatre is proposing to demolish the existing courtyard and rehearsal hall to be replaced by a new three-story, 10,893-square-foot building that includes a rehearsal hall, rooftop deck, office space, a catering kitchen, and back-of-house storage space. 

The project also includes accessibility improvements and a new courtyard entry off the Lobero Paseo.

Marianne Clark, executive director of the Lobero Theatre, said she hopes the commission sees that the project honors the vision of George Washington Smith and Lutah Maria Riggs, who designed the theater in the 1920s. 

“This project certainly benefits the entire arts community and our organization, but the first priority of the Lobero Theatre Foundation’s mission is to take care of this historic building,” Clark said.

Clark also told the commission that they plan to do a fundraising campaign this summer to help fund the project. 

The project was first reviewed by the commission in July 2024.

Since that hearing, the design team reduced the size by 4,000 square feet to better fit the site, removed a planned basement, removed balconies on the second story, and reduced the eastern portion of the building so it’s in line with the rest of the theater, according to Mark Shields with DesignArc Inc. 

The first floor will serve as extra backstage rehearsal space along with office space. The second floor will have a banquet hall, and the third level will have a lounge, bar and event terrace with a fireplace.

The main design concerns the commission had were regarding the windows and molding around the building. Commissioner Sheila Lodge said the proposed windows looked more like industrial or factory windows. 

Melisa Turner with DesignArc Inc. said the windows were inspired by existing windows at the theater but agreed to look into other options.

During public comment, Robert Brace, who said he’s been going to the Lobero for 30 years, said he was looking forward to the theater having a gathering place.

“It’s a beautiful building, it’s a wonderful place, it’s just missing some things,” Brace said. “We need a place to meet and talk instead of hanging out and drinking beer on the road.”

The Santa Barbara City Council designated the project as a community benefit project on June 17, 2025. The designation allows the project to exceed standing zoning height limits.

The HLC members had no problems with the height, though the Santa Barbara Planning Commission will make the final decisions on the height.