We are standing in the last place you expect to find more than a hundred people taking part in. It’s a weed strewn dirt lot in Downtown Santa Barbara. But, this property fits the old adage of what makes a piece of property important: It’s location, location, location.
This lot is in the middle of Santa Barbara’s cultural district, between the Santa Barbara Library and the Santa Barbara Museum, and near the granada Theater. It’s going to be home to a new community plaza, the Michael Towbes Library Plaza.
Lauren Trujillo is Director of the Santa Barbara Library foundation, which spearheaded the plaza project. "By making it open, and inviting to everyone, I think we will really change our downtown, and and the Library as a central point to that," said Trujillo. The project includes making the plaza accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Community leaders gathered on the site to celebrate reaching the $5 million dollar goal, and to kick off work.
It will be called the Michael Towbes Library Plaza. He was a well-known developer, and philanthropist who helped with a number of community projects, like the renovation of the Granada Theater. Towbes died in 2017, but his wife and family have continued his support for efforts to improve Santa Barbara.
"It was in both of our DNA's," said Ann Towbes. "I feel it's incumbent on me to keep his legacy going."
The plaza will open the door to a number of cultural and community events:
Jessica Cadiente is Santa Barbara Library Director. "This space is going to be 10,000 square feet of programmable space that the Library, or any community event can happen here," said Cadiente.
While the $5 million has been raised for the plaza’s construction, there’s an effort now underway to support its future activities. The goal is to raise an additional $2 million endow and sustain the space.
Construction is expected to start on the plaza this summer, with plans calling for it to be completed by the end of the year.
