Entrada hotel developer suggests design changes
The developer for the Entrada de Santa Barbara hotel project have proposed changes to the Santa Barbara City Planning Commission.
Several representatives of Next Century Associates, a Los Angeles development company attended the meeting including managing partner Michael Rosenfeld.
The project was once designed with 56 time share units, but that type of hotel business is not as profitable now as it once was, according to Rosenfeld.
Instead, the Entrada is now on the drawing board with 123 hotel units, commercial businesses including a new restaurant and a park setting near it’s entrance.
The development sites include three of the four corners at State and Mason Streets. The area is sometimes referred to as the “gateway” to Santa Barbara and sits once block from Stearns Wharf. It is also viewed, looking to the west, as the gateway to the “funk zone.”
Designers showed drawings to city planners that have more openings in the project than previous plans, along with lower building heights near the street front walking areas. They said the palm tree lined park setting would be a “people draw.”
The project is going the the Historic Landmarks Commission next week for further review.
Last month, Rosenfeld met with local residents to talk about the Entrada project.
He hoped to have approvals for development in 2014 with a completion in 2016.
