De La Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project

The De La Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project held an Advisory Committee Meeting on January 23^rd, 2020, in City Hall (Room 15) to continue the conceptual design discussion, specifically the parking options, with staff and RRM Design Group, the architectural firm for the project. Several conceptual parking options were reviewed in order to facilitate a discussion over how much parking the Committee contends will meet the need of the Plaza and the surrounding businesses. The Advisory Committee reached the consensus to eliminate parking within the U-shaped portion of the Plaza and to continue to study the right of way and parking options on De La Guerra Street. Additionally, consensus was reached to remove the curbs and create a single level surface from building to building without replacing the lawn area. Here is a link to the meeting minutes and visual presentation shown at the meeting > LINK.

It is exciting to finally be underway and meet with the Advisory Committee for the revitalization of De La Guerra Plaza. The De La Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project is finally happening with funding from Measure C and the support of the community, and this Committee is tasked with guiding staff and architects to develop conceptual drawings.

The first order of business was to elect a Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee. The Chair is Councilmember Kristen Sneddon, and the Vice Chair is Commissioner Lesley Wiscomb (Planning Commission). City Administrator Paul Casey framed the purpose of the Committee.

Please see the link to the Advisory Committee’s meeting minutes to read more.

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee for De La Guerra Plaza will be held on November 8, 2019, in Room 15 at City Hall from 8:30–10:00 a.m. to begin discussions about Plaza revitalization. The Advisory Committee is a Committee subject to the Brown Act and is made up of two members from City Council (Sneddon/Dominguez), two members from Planning Commission (Jordan/Wiscomb), two members from Historic Landmarks Commission (Drury/Veyna), two members from Parks & Recreation Commission (Longstreet/Perry), the Executive Director for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (Anne Petersen, Ph.D.), and the General Manager for the Farmers’ Market Association (Sam Edelman).