Residents, community leaders, project partners, and elected officials will gather today, July 30, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., to celebrate the first anniversary of Escalante Meadows, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara’s transformative affordable housing community in Guadalupe. Congressman Salud Carbajal is expected to attend the event, which will recognize the development’s positive impact on local families during  its first year.  

Escalante Meadows replaced the former Guadalupe Ranch Acres property with 80 modern, affordable homes designed to serve working families in northern Santa Barbara County. The community has quickly become a source of pride for Guadalupe, providing high-quality housing, modern amenities, and supportive services that help residents build stable futures.  

Beyond housing, Escalante Meadows was designed as a community resource. The development includes a community center that hosts resident programs, educational opportunities, family activities, and community gatherings. The site also features a children’s center that supports local families by providing early childhood education and care services, particularly benefiting working parents and farmworker families in the Guadalupe area.  

The anniversary celebration will also include a special plaque dedication presented by the  Escalante family in memory of Larry Deese, a former HASBARCO Senior Project Manager whose compassion and commitment left a lasting impression on both the family and the community. Through the plaque, the Escalante family expresses its gratitude for the respect, kindness, and understanding Deese showed during the creation of Escalante Meadows, as well as his efforts to honor the legacy of Sgt. Augustine Escalante, WWII Veteran, and preserve the family’s heritage for future generations. This brief but meaningful tribute reflects the strong partnerships and shared sense of purpose that helped make Escalante Meadows a reality. 

“Escalante Meadows demonstrates what’s possible when government agencies, community  organizations, funding partners, and local residents work together toward a common vision,” said HASBARCO Public Information Coordinator, Bernie Baggarly. “In just one year, this development has become a thriving community where families can put down roots and children can flourish.” 

Escalante Meadows was developed through a collaboration of federal, state, county, local, nonprofit, and private-sector partners committed to expanding affordable housing opportunities. The development represents one of the most significant affordable housing investments in Guadalupe’s recent history and serves as a model for community-focused development.  

What: Escalante Meadows One-Year Anniversary Celebration 
When: Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Where: Escalante Meadows, 1096 Escalante Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434  
Who: Residents, community leaders, project partners, Congressman Salud Carbajal, and invited guests