The university announced on Thursday that it received approval from the University of California Board of Regents to acquire mixed-use properties on State and East Gutierrez streets, including the Reid's Appliances store, the newly constructed Soltara Apartments complex, and the former Staples store.
The purchase will allow the university to offer workforce housing, events and programming in the downtown area.
The acquisition is part of an effort to have a larger presence downtown and to support the city's business corridor, according to Kiki Reyes, media relations manager for UCSB.
"UC Santa Barbara is extremely proud to be part of the Santa Barbara community, and we are tremendously excited about the opportunity to establish a permanent presence on State Street," Chancellor Henry Yang said. "The university has always appreciated collaborating with partners across the county for the betterment of the entire region, and we look forward to working with the City of Santa Barbara and the local community to identify possibilities for this new space that will support downtown and benefit the entire area."
Reid's Appliances has a five-year lease and will remain in its location. As for the 78-unit Soltara Apartments, the university plans to use the complex for workforce rental housing.
Approximately 65% of the units are occupied, and those leases will continue as written. UCSB will make the remaining units, and any that become available over time, available to UCSB staff and faculty, Reyes said.
If the university can't find staff and faculty for the remaining units, it will work with local governments to house teachers, first responders and public employees.
The apartment complex also includes 89 parking spaces under the first floor and rooftop space for university events.
The downtown residence is meant to complement the university's planned project for 540 workforce housing units on the campus, along Ocean Road, which is set to start development in the next few years, according to Reyes.
Reyes said the empty 18,000-square-foot commercial building could be used for multiple purposes, including retail, events, lectures, performances, co-working and conferencing. UCSB will be working with the city, local businesses and community members to determine for what exactly it should use the space.
Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, a UCSB alumnus, said he's excited to see the university more involved downtown.
"It's great because all these years, since I was on the council, I wanted to get the campus more involved in downtown," Rowse said. "It's great to have the campus more involved in Santa Barbara."
Rowse added that while the housing component of the project doesn't add more housing units, it is exciting to see the university involved in workforce housing.
The university is planning to close on the properties this month. Reyes said they're working to develop a rental process for available units and a consultation process for the former Staples store.