An 82-unit housing project proposed for Santa Barbara's Eastside could be moving forward thanks to an expanded commitment to affordable housing.
The developer on the 711 N. Milpas Street project has offered to make 20% of the project affordable housing, double the city's requirement of 10%.
Getting that done, however, would require a seven foot height raise for the entire facility, which would tower over the surrounding buildings at a total height of 52 feet.
The request is unusual at this stage in the process, but the city has taken it as an opportunity to discuss affordable housing options in an area where it is badly needed.
The current owner of the property, Alan Bleecker, is teaming with a known developer in the area for the project, which is at the shovel-ready stage.
It's set to go for later this summer, despite earlier pushback in prior hearings that it was too large for the area.
