Santa Barbara Approved Senior Housing Redevelopment

The Historic Landmarks Commission greenlit plans to replace an aging housing site with 104 new senior units.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Seniors

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern multi-story apartment complex with a central courtyard, reflecting Santa Barbara's new housing development. — The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission approved the redevelopment of the Presidio Springs site, which will increase capacity to 104 senior apartments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission has approved the redevelopment of the Presidio Springs senior housing project. The plan will replace 48 existing units with 104 modern apartments at the site located at 721 Laguna St.

Why it matters

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara proposed this project to address the growing housing needs for local seniors. By significantly increasing the unit count, the city aims to mitigate long-term residential shortages for the aging population.

The redevelopment will replace 48 units built in 1977 with 104 units spread across two new buildings. The project is scheduled to unfold over a 10-year construction period.

The players

Historic Landmarks Commission

This is the Santa Barbara regulatory body responsible for reviewing and approving major development projects that impact the city’s architectural and historical character.

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

This local government agency is tasked with providing safe and affordable housing opportunities for residents throughout the city.

County Air Pollution Control District

This regional agency sets and enforces standards for construction projects to ensure environmental guidelines regarding air quality are met.

The details

The project involves demolishing five older buildings to make room for two three- to four-story structures. Residents currently living at the site will be temporarily relocated to other Housing Authority facilities throughout the construction process.

The original Presidio Springs Senior Community was built in 1977.
A previous project design was presented to the commission in July 2026.
The commission officially approved the redevelopment on September 23, 2026.

Culture Shift

The approval of this project highlights a broader trend of densification in aging community sites to address severe housing inventory shortages. This shift reflects a move away from low-density historical layouts toward vertical residential growth designed to support larger senior populations.

Current residents will experience temporary relocation to other facilities while construction occurs at the 721 Laguna St site. Families with aging relatives should anticipate a transition phase as the project begins its decade-long development process.

The takeaway

This project represents a long-term commitment to expanding senior housing capacity through phased residential replacement. Residents and neighbors should prepare for a decade of construction activity as the city executes this multi-year development plan.