Alma Del Pueblo

Located in the Center of Santa Barbara’s cultural and performing arts scene is my exciting new listing, Alma Del Pueblo, which is nestled inside the historic El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District. Alma Del Pueblo features 32 Market Rate Residential Units and 5 Middle Income Units, with 29,000 square feet of commercial space, adjacent to world-class entertainment and shopping housed in some of Southern California’s best examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. From the iconic Arlington Theater to the fully restored Granada Theatre, the Museum of Art to the Public Library, virtually every block boasts of a unique piece of Santa Barbara’s history and a source of entertainment and pride for its citizens.  Please call 805.252.2773 or email emily@villagesite.com for more information or to set up an appointment. 

Alma Del Pueblo Exterior

Santa Barbara Public Market

Owner's Club Room

Rendering Living Room

Rendering Living/Dining Room

Rendering Kitchen

Rendering International Unit (Studio)

Alma Del Pueblo Sustainability Features

In addition to its superb location, amenities, and other benefits, Alma Del Pueblo is LEED-Certified Platinum and has a wide variety of sustainability features.  The energy costs of the project are reduced by 62%, and the indoor water system creates a 30% reduction in potable water use, to name just two of the areas where Alma Del Pueblo stands out.  The project also offers a green roof, high air quality, areas for gardening, parking for electric vehicles, bicycle storage, and more... Come by our sales office at 1321 State Street to see how Alma Del Pueblo is unique and offers an entirely different lifestyle than any other location or building in the Santa Barbara area.

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Alma Del Pueblo Makes Huge Strides

July through September have been busy months for the construction of Alma Del Pueblo, as the development has made major progress over the course of the summer.  The Vons grocery store was demolished, and nearly 80% of the remains were recycled.  Two large palm trees were shipped to local nurseries, and large wooden sheaths and beams were sent to Mexico to help build homes. 

           The six large mosaic murals were also successfully moved to their new location. Eight construction workers and two crane operators labored for sixteen hours to relocate the panels, and only 3 of the 465,000 tiles were lost in the process. This feat totaled out to be $150,000, which is nearly six times the price it took for Joseph Knowles to assemble the artwork fifty years ago. Knowles, a popular local artist, depicted six separate scenes that are important to Santa Barbara’s history. These images range from Chumash Indians to the Santa Barbara Mission, and later, space exploration.

            I encourage you to check out the Alma Del Pueblo Official Website, as well as the Santa Barbara Public Market Official Website.  I will keep the Alma Del Pueblo updates coming!

1242 W. Valerio Now Reduced to $649,000

I am excited to announce that my listing at 1242 W. Valerio has now been reduced from $685,000 to $649,000!  For more information you can check out my previous blog entry on Valerio, or take the SB photo tour.  This house is a 1920's remodeled Upper Westside cottage with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (3rd bedroom has no closet and could also be a den or office), 1-car garage, fruit trees, and great outdoor entertaining space.  In recent years, this home has been redone, including the plumbing and electric systems, new roof, new bathroom added with permits, new kitchen, new GFA, new windows, garage, etc.  Great location- contact me if you are interested!

Good News for the Real Estate Market and The Importance of Agents

             The real estate market is looking up, as recent statistics show that eighty metropolitan areas across the United States have seen improved housing markets.  The National Association of Home Builders released an article stating that of the eighty areas, each region has “distinctly different characteristics in terms of their economic and employment bases as well as other factors."  This is great news for individuals looking into buying or selling a home, as it reflects the market’s recovery in a variety of regions across the nation.

            In terms of individuals looking to purchase a home, the California Association of Realtors released statistics showing that 80% of homebuyers find their homes through real estate agents.   The graph also showed that each buyer viewed a median of twelve homes before deciding to purchase.   This chart exemplifies the importance of finding a quality agent that is able to expose their clients to multiple listings that meet their preference. 

Now is also a good time to look into selling a property, as nearly half of the properties on the market in 2011 received multiple offers.  It looks like now is a great time to get into the market as either a buyer or a seller! 

Recently Sold - 2241 Stanwood Drive - Last Listed for $2,000,000

Nestled on two private oak-studded acres with a babbling creek, this custom built Mediterranean estate accommodates casual day-to-day living as well as ample space for entertaining.  The heart of the home is the chef's kitchen, breakfast area, and family room with vaulted ceilings and cozy fireplace.  Beautifully manicured grounds surround the home with several patios, a built in BBQ, and a fire pit.

Recently Sold - 1280 Cliff Drive

Recently sold! Beautifully updated three bedroom, two bathroom ocean & island view home located on the Mesa with a free standing two-car garage and private fenced backyard with fresh landscaping and a nice patio. This home has been painted inside and out, with a new roof, furnace, and double pane windows, just to name a few of the positive points to this gem of a home. These buyers are lovely people, and I hope they enjoy their new home.