Courtesy photos.
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB), joined by city officials, project partners, and community members, celebrated the official groundbreaking of Jacaranda Court, a new 63-unit affordable rental community designed to serve Santa Barbara’s workforce and moderate-income residents—often referred to as the “Missing Middle.”
The ceremony marked the start of construction on the $44.8 million development, which will transform an under-utilized, city-owned commuter parking lot at 400 W. Carrillo Street into much-needed housing. Jacaranda Court represents a significant partnership between HACSB and the City of Santa Barbara to address the region’s ongoing housing shortage.
Project Background
Jacaranda Court is a planned 63-unit rental community by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, set to replace an under-utilized city-owned commuter parking lot with much-needed workforce housing. Designed to support Santa Barbara’s “missing middle” — households who earn too much to qualify for traditional low-income housing yet are priced out of market-rate rentals — the three- to four-story building will include 21 studios, 37 one-bedroom units, and 5 two-bedroom units. Seven apartments will be reserved for low-income households with Section 8 project-based vouchers, while the remaining units will serve moderate-income residents under long-term income and rent restrictions secured by a 90-year affordability covenant. The estimated $44.8 million development will be financed through a combination of HACSB reserves, bonds, and multiple loans, including a $3.5 million contribution from the City’s Local Housing Trust Fund. In addition to this loan, the City’s donation of the land — valued at more than $7 million — reflects a strong municipal commitment to expanding housing opportunities for Santa Barbara’s workforce and moderate-income families.
About Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is a local public agency created for the purpose of providing safe, decent, and quality affordable housing and supportive services to eligible persons with limited incomes, through a variety of federal, state, local and private resources. Since 1969, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara has developed and/or secured over 4,000 units of affordable rental housing for Santa Barbara through a variety of federal, state, local and private funding sources. For more information, please visit www.hacsb.org
