Friday is move-in day for the future tenants of the Bella Vista apartment complex, the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara’s newest affordable housing project reserved for low-income families.
The project brings 48-units to 200 North La Cumbre Road, an area chosen for its proximity to Hope Elementary School, grocery stores and public transit. According to Housing Authority Deputy Executive Director Dale Fathe-Aazam, it’s the perfect family neighborhood.
The process began in 2019, when the Housing Authority purchased the property. After years of permitting and 18 months of construction, Mayor Randy Rowse cut the ribbon opening Bella Vista at a ceremony on Monday.
“After all the hard work, it was nice to take a minute and look at all the people it took to get us here,” Fathe-Aazam said. “It was a job well done. We did pretty good.”
Recently, the Housing Authority’s projects have catered to seniors and other special needs groups, according to Fathe-Aazam. But Bella Vista was a project for low-income families. The tenants were selected from the Housing Authority’s lengthy affordable housing wait list.
All units will take Section 8 housing vouchers, which are eligible to low-income households below 80% of the average medium income. Under Section 8, a large portion of qualified tenants’ rent is subsidized by the federal government, while the tenant pays around 30% of their income.
“The need for low-income housing straddles all segments of the population in Santa Barbara,” Fathe-Aazam said. “We hadn’t done a family project in a few years, so we were happy to be able to do that here.”
The 48 residential units span a 1.3 acre plot at the corner of North La Cumbre Road and Via Lucero Roads. They consist of 15 one-bedrooms, 21 two-bedrooms, and 12-three bedrooms. Communal courtyard spaces flood the grounds between buildings, plus a laundry room and community room named after late Santa Barbara mayor Sheila Lodge.
The complex is built atop a parking garage with 68 spaces, including electric vehicle chargers. A property manager from the Housing Authority will also occupy one unit on-site.
Previously, the site was occupied by medical and dental offices. Though the land wasn’t vacant, Fathe-Aazam said the complex was aging and had potential for more. After the location was permitted, The Cearnal Collective designed the complex and McGillivray Inc. led the construction, beginning in early 2025.
“We’re trying to dig deeper, get creative,” Fathe-Aazam said. “Santa Barbara is pretty well built out, it’s a challenge to find land where you can develop on.”
On Monday, a ribbon cutting ceremony was hosted at the site. Housing Authority CEO Rob Fredericks, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Mayor Randy Rowse and Housing Authority Board Chair Lisa Carlos spoke at the event.
Tenants began signing leases on Tuesday, and will begin moving into the apartments Friday and through next week.
“We’re not just helping 48 families,” Fathe-Aazam said, recalling a quote from Lisa Carlos at the ceremony. “It’s going to last a long time. So we’re helping hundreds of people into the future. That’s why we’re here, it’s very gratifying.”
