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South Coast Community Eyeing Purchase of National Guard Armory

Some local officials are in the state capitol to support what could be a key land purchase in the future.

The National Guard Armory in Santa Barbara on Canon Perdido Street has for years been on the wish list for the city of Santa Barbara as a piece of land it could use for a variety of reasons.

Buying it has not been easy.

A bill in Sacramento by assembly member Das Williams would add this armory to a list of other similar properties in the state that could be sold in the next year to a local municipality or school district.

The proposal has even drawn School Superintendent David Cash, City Manager Paul Casey and Mayor Helene Schneider to support the legislation in person.

It would give Santa Barbara another year to evaluate the site and possibly purchase it.

In the past the site has been a favored location for more school uses, recreational needs or even a proposed new police station.

The Armory was built in 1935 and has had limited use in recent years and is not an active military personnel site.

It covers nearly five acres of land with Santa Barbara High School on one side and Santa Barbara Junior High on the other side, a block from Milpas Street.

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