Since 1925, when the City Hall building was removed from the Plaza lawn and construction of the current City Hall building was completed just off the plaza, there have been periodic efforts to redesign and improve the Plaza. The most recent effort began in 1998 when the Redevelopment Agency authorized $35,000 for the first of a three-phased approach to re-envisioning the Plaza. Phase I was the 2002 publication of a high quality book, Plaza de la Guerra Reconsidered, prepared by the Trust for Historic Preservation. This work condensed the photographs and essays from the 1999 exhibition entitled “Site Work 4: Plaza de la Guerra Reconsidered - The History of a Public Space,” which presents an extensive history of the Plaza. Phase II included convening a core group of stakeholders with an interest and role in the future of the Plaza. The core group included representatives of the City Council, City Administration, Redevelopment Agency, Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission, Historic Landmarks Commission, Santa Barbara News-Press, Trust for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara Conservancy and the Downtown Organization. Phase II also included facilitated meetings with stakeholders: owners, tenants, community groups that regularly use the Plaza, and others who have interests in the Plaza. Phase III has involved the consulting firm Campbell and Campbell, who have been hired to develop a comprehensive design to upgrade the electrical service, enhance the landscape and hardscape of the Plaza, design the roadway and interior lawn to function in a safe manner for automobiles and pedestrians during large community events, and strengthen the visual, aesthetic and functional connection between Stroke Placita, the Plaza and Casa de la Guerra. One-million dollars ($1,000,000) has been set aside to initiate the concept design and to begin budgeting for improvements. When the concept design returns to Council, additional funding may be requested. Final design is anticipated in mid-2008 with phased construction to follow. Initial public comment on the early concept is being solicited through a series of meetings beginning in October 2007. Following an initial round of comment gathering, changes to the design will be explored and a subsequent round of discussion will follow. |
Plaza De la Guerra, Existing Layout.
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