Large Housing Project Going Up in Santa Barbara Replacing Sandman Inn Hotel

Another long debated housing project in Santa Barbara has cleared the strict review process and a new large housing project is going up in Santa Barbara. It will be on State St. near Hitchcock Way.

The site was formerly the Sandman Inn.

The project went through extensive review, public comment periods, and two appeals. Issues over size and traffic impacts were considered.

Demolition of the hotel is underway, with heavy equipment tearing down the aging structures and hauling out the debris. Some trees on the site are going to be preserved and molded into the new design.

Construction on 73 housing units and some retail spaces will begin next month. The housing units will be about 1200 square feet. Some of the units will be considered “affordable” under the city guidelines, as part of the approval process.

The construction is expected to take about a year.