Donation to Orcutt senior center pushes long-planned project for new facility forward
ORCUTT, Calif. – A donation given Monday morning is aiming to help push forward the long-planned project to build a new OASIS (Orcutt Area Seniors In Service) Center in Orcutt.
A $10,000 contribution was given by the developer of the Solomon Hills Project, a proposed large-scale community this is planned on 1,903 acres just south of Orcutt.
"We are part of this community," said Jackson Washburn, Solomon Hills Development Director. "The oil fields have been up there since 1901 and we realize that this part of the community is underprivileged, so we are excited about helping this current facility, as well as helping with the new facility that is proposed."
The donation will help bolster the extended process to build a new multi-use facility that been approved on land along Clark Avenue in Old Town Orcutt.
"We are just so grateful for the generosity for Solomon Hills," said Amy Lammert, OASIS Center Programs and Operations Director. "This is really going to help get our project off the ground."
In December 2021, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the location of the new facility, which will include two buildings, a 14,000 square foot main building and a smaller 2000 square foot accessory building with ceramics room, kiln and indoor BBQ.
However, a large amount of money is still needed to be raised in order for construction to begin.
The current cost to build the new building is approximately $6.2 million. The financial campaign to build the facility has around $1 million, so a significant gap remains.
"We are grateful for all the donors that are going to help us over the next several months, including the smaller ones and the others who are more affluent and are willing to support this project," said Steve Southwick, OASIS Campaign Steering Committee. "We are rolling forward and we are going to make it happen. It's going to be a great addition for Orcutt."
OASIS is looking to replace its exciting facility as quickly as possible. Its current home is a collection of aging portable buildings that no longer have the ability to serve the nearly 2,000 seniors who are members of the non-profit organization.
"OASIS has been here since the 80's and we are growing so big," said Lammert. "We have under 2,000 members and our classes are just overgrown and we even have half of our class outside, some of it inside, and we just really need a new facility to accommodate all the members that want to come and enjoy OASIS."
As for the Solomon Hills project, initial plans include 4,000 homes, as well as a series of trails, parks and open space over a 1,903 acre site.
"It's focused on workforce housing," said Washburn. "More than 60 percent of them we anticipate being less than 2,000 square feet. To focus on that, it will be a net zero carbon community. We also know that water is a big issue. We, because of our size, we are going to be able to build our own wastewater system plant, so that all of our landscaping and all of our irrigation will be with recycled water. We are starting from scratch, which allows us to do our landscaping drought resistant. All of our infrastructure will be below grade, so it will all be resilient and out of the way. It really allows us to kind of be forward leaning and what do the developments of the future look like?"
Washburn added the project remains in the very early stages of planning and is still several years away from potential county approval.
"This is long-term planning," said Washburn. "This isn't to address the immediate needs of the community, but in the future, how and what is the best way to grow smart and to make sure that we protect all the things that make this part of the world a great place to live. We are very excited about this project. We think what we're proposing is a good alternative for long-term growth and very excited about it."
At the same time OASIS was received the check from Solomon Hills, it was also preparing to host a major fundraiser.
On Saturday, Aug. 5, OASIS is set to hold a concert featuring The Molly Ringwald Project at Presqu'ile Winery.
The event will not only include live music, but also local food vendors, wine, beer, desserts and raffles.
For more information about OASIS Center, click here.
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