Solvang proposing to enter into agreement with developer to remove Vet's Hall to create European-style plaza
By Raiza Giorgi · Fri May 22 2020
*To be clear this rendering above is from Kosmont of another development of what mixed use looks like. Not the rendering of what the proposed project will look like.
By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
The Solvang City Council is hosting a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, to discuss entering into a special agreement with Santa Barbara based developer Ed St. George, for a proposed project at the old Solvang Lumber Yard and current site of the Solvang Veteran's Memorial Hall as well as several other identified areas in Solvang.
The project will consist of a multi-phase plan that will create "a central European style plaza. The development proposes adding property tax value by building hotel and housing infrastructure while creating central place for larger gatherings and events and day to day use as a park. The proposed development is also a mixed use with dining space expanding experiential tourism to the downtown area," according to the staff report released Thursday evening.
The rendering above from Kosmont shows a style of mixed use from a previous job in downtown Asuza.
The parcels are owned by multiple entities including, the City of Solvang, St. George (he recently purchased the Solvang Lumbar Yard property from local developer Mitch Williams), and the County of Santa Barbara. The County of Santa Barbara has contractual obligations with State Courts, and the Senior Center for the use of facilities. The County of Santa Barbara also runs the Sheriff Sub‐Station within this location, providing law enforcement services to the City of Solvang. The City of Solvang operates the Library services and provides designated space for the Veteran’s within identified facilities.
The proposal includes a three-story public administration building which includes a new City Hall, Veteran's Hall, 3rd District Supervisor office, Senior Center and Cyber Library. It also includes two hotels, commercial space and penthouse condos on the fourth floor of the residential unites. There is also a two-level parking garage.
The parcels are owned by multiple entities including, the City of Solvang, St. George (he recently purchased the Solvang Lumbar Yard property from local developer Mitch Williams), and the County of Santa Barbara. The County of Santa Barbara has contractual obligations with State Courts, and the Senior Center for the use of facilities. The County of Santa Barbara also runs the Sheriff Sub‐Station within this location, providing law enforcement services to the City of Solvang. The City of Solvang operates the Library services and provides designated space for the Veteran’s within identified facilities.
The proposal includes a three-story public administration building which includes a new City Hall, Veteran's Hall, 3rd District Supervisor office, Senior Center and Cyber Library. It also includes two hotels, commercial space and penthouse condos on the fourth floor of the residential unites. There is also a two-level parking garage.
In January 2020, Kosmont Companies performed Market Demand Analysis for the City of Solvang. Kosmont identified potential demand for additional hotel rooms in the trade area and a demand multi‐family residential units. Kosmont recommended a blended use development integrating hotel, restaurants, and residential units.
The city also determined that the Vet's Hall is not retrofitted for earthquake, which they say presents a safety concern for the use of the Veteran’s Hall as City Designated Shelter. Seismic structural remodel of the building would be very costly. They also indicated the Solvang Senior Center also needs to be expanded and upgraded, as well as the Library. The current tenant of the veterans groups of the VFW Post 7139 and American Legion Post 160. They were just notified last week of the proposed project, and will be at the meeting to comment, according to Al Salge, Commander of the VFW Post 7139.
The initial conceptual scope of the project contemplates inclusion of a multi‐purpose administrative uses building to accommodate the City of Solvang Administrative needs, Library, Senior Center and Veteran’s Hall. It is contemplated that the Sheriff’s Sub‐Station and the Courts operations would be relocated. Staff will continue to work with the developer and the County of Santa Barbara to develop alternative locations, including potentially current City Hall location.
"The proposed development’s Community Center would ensure continued support by the City and County for providing public good services, and would include a Library, Senior Center, Veterans Hall and City administration. The City and County are also working collaboratively to accommodate and improve the Sheriff’s Sub-Station and Courts space needs. This is the very beginning of the public process and outreach, including community and stakeholder input, to develop the final project. The final proposed project would then be vetted through City approval process," wrote Mayor Ryan Toussaint in his weekly message.
The outreach summary shows this project began in February when Williams and St. George met with Kosmont to talk about the multi-use development and to include the City/County building as well.