Historic La Casa de la Raza building in Santa Barbara is in escrow as community members push for preservation
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The historic La Casa de la Raza building in Santa Barbara is in escrow, putting the future of the longtime community gathering space in focus as the property moves through bankruptcy court proceedings.
The building, located at 601 East Montecito Street, cannot be sold without approval from the bankruptcy court.
The property has been tied up in a complicated legal battle for years. A court-approved settlement in 2025 cleared the way for the property to be sold by an appointed trustee.
The building is currently listed for nearly $2.8 million, significantly less than the $4.3 million asking price from a year ago.
The property has also faced concerns about its physical condition. It was red-tagged in May 2025 after officials found the building to be in poor condition.
Community members ask city to consider purchase
Three community members spoke during a Santa Barbara City Council meeting, asking the city to consider purchasing the historic property.
Jacqui Inda, director of the Restorative Justice Education Center, said community members are concerned about what could happen if the property is purchased by a private entity and later resold.
“What happens if it gets purchased and then resold and then resold?” Inda said. “There is no stability. Not for that community space, not for the meaning of it.”
Inda said she has been involved in the space because she wants to help keep it available to the community while its future is determined.
“An LLC purchasing it does not make it a final iteration, it just makes it available to purchase,” she said.
What happens next?
A prospective buyer has not been publicly identified.
In a May resolution, the La Casa de la Raza board said it would respect the court's determination of the property's new owner.
The organization also said it hopes to work with the eventual owner as a community liaison.
The sale remains subject to bankruptcy court approval.
The City of Santa Barbara has been asked whether it is considering purchasing the property.
For generations, La Casa de la Raza has been an important gathering place for Santa Barbara's Latino community. Now, as the building moves toward a potential change in ownership, community members are calling for its history and cultural significance to remain part of its future.
