Historic Santa Barbara Market Survives as 45-Unit Housing Project Gets Final Green Light

A project to build a housing development while preserving the longtime Tri-County Produce grocery store in Santa Barbara received final architectural approval. - The Architectural Board of Review granted design approval on May 26 for the redevelopment at 335 S.

Milpas Street. - The plan includes a 4,000-square-foot addition to the existing market, a new outdoor patio, and a 45-unit residential building with 14 three-bedroom units.

- The development will have three very low-income units and one moderate-income unit, increasing affordable housing. - The board prohibited any units from being used as vacation rentals.

The project preserves the market, which has served Santa Barbara for over five decades and attracted high-profile backers including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy Schmidt.