An area within the Lower Riviera Special Design District has been nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The California Office of Historic Preservation intends to consider the nomination for approval at the February 7, 2025 meeting of the State Historical Resources Commission. The full nomination form is available on the OHP website.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. It reviews nominations and offers guidance supporting historic preservation. It does not create or enforce any regulations, leaving that to state and local agencies.
Places listed in the National Register are automatically considered to be subject to California and Santa Barbara historic preservation regulations. The City of Santa Barbara uses the The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation when reviewing development proposals.
The new historic district is composed of 151 buildings and structures in an area roughly bounded by Micheltorena, Alta Vista, Victoria and Olive Streets. 119 of the buildings are considered to be “contributing” to the district. The remaining are “noncontributing”, which means their historic character has been compromised. Noncontributing properties are still expected to conform to the historic character of the district, but are not eligible for any historic preservation incentives. All of the properties are private residences.
The Office of Historic Preservation works closely with nominating entities to prepare nominations, and has had this nomination since at least April 2024. Very few nominations are not approved.