KEY POINTS
- Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.
- Jacaranda Court will turn an underused parking lot into a $44.8 million, 63-unit affordable apartment building.
- The project targets the “Missing Middle,” people who don’t qualify for low-income housing but can’t afford market-rate rents.
- The Housing Authority is also advancing major affordable housing projects for senior citizens and low-income families.
CLICK HERE to get full details of this project, including any available plans, courtesy of ConstructConnect Project Intelligence.
The cost of living in Santa Barbara, California, is one of the highest in the nation, higher than 80% of all U.S. cities. Achievable housing is also in short supply. With these facts in mind, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) has just broken ground on its next project, converting a parking lot just west of downtown into affordable apartments. When complete, the $44.8 million Jacaranda Court project will offer 63 rental units in a four-story building, part of the Housing Authority’s long-term efforts to address the region’s housing shortage.
Who can rent from Jacaranda Court?
The HACSB says Jacaranda Court is designed to serve Santa Barbara’s “Missing Middle,” people who make too much for low-income housing but not enough for market-rate rentals. Of the building’s 63 units, 21 will be studios, 37 will be one-bedroom apartments, and 5 will have two bedrooms. Seven of these units will be reserved for people who qualify for low-income housing, and one apartment will be reserved for a building manager.
Why is Santa Barbara converting this particular parking lot?
Calling it an “underused commuter lot,” the HACSB says it picked 400 W. Carrillo St. for this project because of its proximity to downtown Santa Barbara and its main thoroughfare, State Street. The location gives future residents easy access to public transit and the nearby 101 Freeway. The agency adds that the existing lot has enough space to accommodate the apartments, as well as 63 at-grade parking spaces.
How long has Jacaranda Court been in the works?
Jacaranda Court can be traced back to 2018, when the HACSB and the City of Santa Barbara began exploring the idea of turning city-owned parking lots into housing. After several years of community engagement, the project was approved in late 2023. Officials expect the building to be completed, and residents to be fully moved in, by September 2027.
Here is the full project timeline for Jacaranda Court:
-
2018: The Housing Authority and Santa Barbara officials begin exploring the idea of converting city-owned parking lots into housing.
-
2019: Santa Barbara City Council approves a feasibility study to explore converting 400 W. Carrillo St.
-
2020: The city and Housing Authority execute a Memorandum of Understanding to further the project.
-
July 27, 2020: First community feedback session held.
-
September 2021: Project Agreement reached with Santa Barbara to continue development plans.
-
August 2023: Santa Barbara Planning Commission approves the project.
-
September 2023: Santa Barbara City Council approves the project and donates 400 W. Carrillo St. to the Housing Authority.
-
December 16, 2025: Groundbreaking held.
-
January 2026: Construction expected to begin.
-
September 2027: Projected completion and occupancy.
What other affordable housing is coming to Santa Barbara?
The HACSB also has two other major affordable housing projects, both of them redevelopments. The first is a phased rehabilitation of the agency’s largest property, the 1970s-built Presidio Springs. The 4.7-acre site provides apartments for senior citizens. According to the HACSB, 40% of the city’s seniors lack the resources to keep up with the high cost of local living. With Santa Barbara’s older adult population expected to grow 32% by 2060, the agency says it’s the right time to update Presidio Springs. The Housing Authority held community sessions on the project earlier in 2025 and is currently incorporating that feedback into the redesign.
The second major project is Bella Vista, a 48-unit development focused on low-income families. The HACSB bought the land, a former site of medical and dental offices, in 2019. Construction began on Bella Vista in early 2025.
Stay Connected
Stay connected with ConstructConnect News, your source for construction economy insights, market trends, and project news.
About ConstructConnect
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.
ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com
