The Santa Barbara Mission has begun a long-planned project to install an ADA-compliant ramp at the historic church.

The $1.1 million project will resurface the front landing and install a ramp on the right side of the entrance to make the building more accessible. 

The existing route to the St. Barbara Parish church entrance, with large steps, has long posed challenges for visitors with mobility issues. 

“It was a very long, kind of roundabout way to get there,” said Mónica Orozco, executive director of Old Mission Santa Barbara. “For people with walkers or in wheelchairs, that’s really quite an ordeal.”

Crews this week removed tile at the landing and began cutting into the stairs where the ramp will be built. Orozco described the current work as selective demolition and preparation, with construction expected to begin in the coming weeks.

The full project is expected to take six to eight months, depending on weather and site conditions. Orozco said the project will not disrupt church services as work is scheduled Monday through Friday and noisy activity will pause during weekday Mass.

The ramp is being added with attention to the mission’s historic character, using materials and design meant to preserve the site’s iconic appearance.

“The stone we’ve acquired is from the same quarry as the stone that’s been used on the front of the mission,” Orozco said. “That will help it match the façade we have now — hopefully it should blend right in.”

About $700,000 has been raised so far through community donations and while the campaign is still underway, Orozco said no major fundraising events are planned.

“It’s been really great to see a wide variety of people in our community, not just our parish community, but the broader Santa Barbara community — stepping up to help the Mission,” she said.

The Santa Barbara Mission is located at 2201 Laguna St.