The former St. Anthony’s Seminary complex at 2300 Garden Street will be auctioned off next month. After it was brought on the market in August 2022 for an undisclosed price ($50 million, per the current auction listing), I heard that at least one major luxury hotel company looked into the property and passed. The listing photos show signs of deferred maintenance, although the bigger issue is likely to be reluctance to engage with the city bureaucracy on such a complex project.
According to Concierge Auctions, “2300 Garden Street was a part of the original iconic Santa Barbara Mission lands and once served as a theological college and as various private schools dating back to the early 1900s. The entire site features six institutionally sized building structures, multipurpose sports field, tennis/basketball courts, gardens, additional portables, several parking lots and 360-degree stunning Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountain views.” The property is 11.37 acres, and it’s a city historic landmark zoned RE-15 with approved educational use. As a result, “new/different use is subject to all local/state/required approvals.”
Bidding runs from June 12 to June 26; there’s no reserve, and the listing says starting bids of up to $25 million are expected. The buyer will also have to pay Concierge a 12 percent fee.
This marks the second major change for the area around the Mission. A developer is proposing a seven-story building with 250 apartments (down from the initial 560) on the former Mount Calvary Monastery property at 505 E. Los Olivos Street (which abuts 2300 Garden), because the city dropped the ball on its housing element and the state’s so-called “builder’s remedy” provision kicked in.
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The Sperling family through their charitable San Roque school Trust has lost interest in education once their children finished school. Now instead of being charitable and doing something for the community they are looking to make a profit.
Seven stories tall next to the Mission?! Erik, would you be so kind as to share where you’re following the latest on that project? I’ve googled the address but am not getting much. Is someone else reporting on it or are you accessing information through one of the city building / permitting portals? Thanks!
I went to the Building Department and asked to see the plans. I think it’s in a pre-application phase, so it hasn’t shown up on any agendas yet.
Extremely thorough. Thank you for the work you do!
The Independent published a very comprehensive article about the proposed apartment complex next to the Mission. I believe you can find it online. It’s worth reading.
I’m aware of the article covering the builder’s remedy issue in SB which includes a mention of the original plans for 500+ apartments. I cannot find anything addressing the current iteration or a seven story building which is the present proposal. If such an article exists, then I would deeply appreciate you linking to it. I don’t think it has been covered in such specific detail, however.
This are Majestic Buildings. Doesn’t the public get any rights to enjoy the heritage of these wonderful buildings? Couldn’t the people mandate they don’t allow these buildings to be destroyed and have public access to learn and share the history?
The public should have rights over someone else’s private property?
One might think no , but our government has a law that says yes , Eminent Domain. There is a Historic Preservation Act as well but that does not stop demolition of the building
Eminent domain is action taken by the government, and would require just compensation to the owner of the private property. Given the state’s massive deficit, and the city’s, would this really be the wisest use of our tax dollars?
In this case it seems it would be a higher tax bracket. I don’t think they would use Eminent Domain but your question was do the public have the right and that is what they use if they want to take something
The city may feel that a diversity of people that wouldn’t be aware of the mission will get enjoy it and its history.
I would suggest a photography field trip to persevere these historic landmark’s for the Museum. Everything is subject to natural disaster. Please know I am putting this nicely. What u and I think is not a reality.
I am very aware of Eminent Domain. The Naval Base in Lemoore, CA was my fathers farm land
There is no way 7 stories of apartments will ever or should ever be approved next to the mission.
It seem like a school right end hotel would be ideal for this property. It must be preserved!
Just wondering if this place is haunted by the many children that were sadly abused here?
Your comment is NEGATIVE and CRUEL beyond belief!!
Carol- as teens my friends and I would sneak around with the same age boys from St Anthony’s, and the stories they told us would curl your hair. Of course not everyone who attended was abused, but I’m sure there are many young men who hope this place burns to the ground….
My friends and I would hear the same things. As a Mount Carmel student we would go to the most beautiful concerts there but, the place always seemed kind of sad.
If they requested to make it into low income housing for the city’s many low-paid workers, or requested to make it into homeless housing and services, I imagine it’d get approved by the city very quickly. It would require a generous billionaire with an altruistic heart to fund the continuing functioning.
No way to access Odds and Ends in this post.
Indeed, there is not, because I inadvertently put the wrong link in the email newsletter. (The correct one is below.) When this sort of thing happens, bear in mind that all the content in the newsletter is also on the website—so you can always just go to SitelineSB.com and scroll down till you see what you’re looking for.
Here’s the Odds & Ends post: https://www.sitelinesb.com/the-well-is-opening-an-outpost-in-montecito/
Thank you for the link and additional info!
I am horrified that these landmarks cannot be saved and that a huge apartment complex can potentially go in there.
What can we do to stop this ?
It’s not all about profit – it’s heritage saving the gorgeous architecture that makes SB special. The buildings should be repurposed – hopefully the city can work with whoever buys it to preserve this gem.
Erick. Thanks for the great photos of the seminary. I see what you mean about deferred maintenance, but what a gorgeous complex. Hopefully someone will renovate it and not destroy the charm.