A decade ago, city and community activists started dreaming about creating a transformational space at the downtown Santa Barbara Public Library.
On Tuesday, the City Council turned the page on that effort — and approved a $10.9 million contract to begin construction of the downtown library plaza.
The area will be called the Michael Towbes Plaza. The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation led a capital campaign to raise $5 million. The city will also use Measure C funds to pay for the project.
“When we had the idea to name it after Michael Towbes, we realized that there really was no public space in Santa Barbara that was dedicated to his memory and honor, and this would seem to be a really fitting way to say thank you and recognize all that he has done in the city of Santa Barbara,” said Janet Garufis, co-chair of the library foundation’s capital campaign committee and chairman/CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust, of which Towbes was the co-founder.
The goal of the renovation is to make the library an educational and cultural hub, provide an urban green space, anchor the city’s arts district, and provide legal accessibility for everyone. The project also calls for a new central library elevator, a new central library workspace and money for reserve funds.
“This is a big day,” City Councilman Eric Friedman said. “For me, it is just very gratifying and just emotional.”
Friedman said he’s been working on the project since 2007, when he was on the library board.
“This project is a key to downtown revitalization,” he said.
Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon also expressed joy.
“We all love the library,” Sneddon said. “The whole community loves the library. It is the gift that just keeps on giving. All stages of life. All abilities and all ages.”
Sneddon, who attended Santa Barbara High School, said she spent every day after school at the library.
“It was a very special place to me,” she said.
She talked about taking two of her children there over spring break.
“Every time I go there, it has something new and relevant and progressive for everyone,” Sneddon said.
Council Approves Start to Coast Village Road District
The City Council voted unanimously to start the process to create a Coast Village Road benefit assessment district.
The new Coast Village district would be made up of six blocks, consisting of 115 parcels owned by 94 property owners.
“Coast Village Road is sort of an unsung gem of the community,” Sneddon said. “It is such an example for what every business community in the city should look like and feel like — low vacancy rates, beautiful, cared-for spaces, it’s well-attended, you have family events, art events, cultural events.”
The first year of the assessment is expected to raise $296,749 in revenue.
Money will help pay for repairs to sidewalks, traffic management, district identity and “placemaking,” which includes social media, public relations, art, website and seasonal decorations, administration and reserves.
Now that the council has initiated the process, ballots will be mailed to each property owner, and votes will be counted at a public hearing on June 7. More than 50% approval is needed to form the district.
Property owners making up more than 30% of the property assessments have already voted to support the district.
— 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.
