Miramar Hotel Project Could Break Ground in June
There is some movement at the Miramar Hotel property with story poles recently put up to give residents an idea of how tall buildings will be.
Construction on the luxury hotel could start as soon as this upcoming summer.
An updated plan for the 16 acres of ocean front property on South Jameson Lane has some residents eager for the opening.
“I learned how to swim out on the raft here. That’s how far back I go,” said Emily Roos, a longtime Montecito resident.
Roos has lived near the Miramar Hotel since she was a little girl. She wants the property to reclaim the former glory she remembers.
“We had a raft, we had a snack bar, we had lockers and we could spend the whole day down here. There was volleyball, there was shuffleboard. We had the best time ever and that’s what I want to see brought back,” she said.
There is one more hurtle before breaking ground. Rick Caruso, the billionaire developer and owner of the Miramar needs the green light from the Montecito Planning Commission.
“The biggest news is that we are, with those approvals, ready to go forward and begin construction and design and be breaking ground as soon as June of next year,” said Matt Middlebrook, the executive vice president of development for Caruso Affiliated.
Middlebrook will present the updated plans to the commission on Dec. 15.
On the third go-around with design plans, the slated 186 rooms will drop to 170. Underground parking will be eliminated and more surface parking added. Both will help reduce costs that kept Caruso from building the luxury property in 2008.
“As everybody remembers, right around that exact same time is when the wheels came off the economy,” said Middlebrook.
The project will also have something new.
“For the first time in this plan we are going to be adding a beach front restaurant which people are thrilled about because they can actually sit out at a restaurant overlooking the water which is something remarkably unique to Montecito,” said Middlebrook.
Roos said she supports the project and believes it will benefit the community.
“I want to see it lively again. The vacant lot is depressing, it’s terrible. It’s terrible for all of us. We want to use it,” she said.
If the Montecito Planning Commission does approve this latest project, construction could be completed in June 2017.
Montecito Planning Commission:
Miramar Hotel Project meeting scheduled for Dec. 15, 2014 at 9 a.m.
Planning Commission Hearing Room
123 East Anapamu Street, Room 17
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Click here for the agenda.
