Anyone know what this cavernous building is way above the polo development? It’s on the ridge line just past the polo fields. Sorry the pic is not that great. —J.
I couldn’t tell from Google Maps/Earth whether the structure is on Foothill Road or Toro Canyon Park Road, so I went for a drive around that area. (That was me your security camera caught briefly parking in your driveway.) The best views of the building are from Highway 101 (as in J.’s photo, above) and Toro Canyon Road and Foothill Road (below), where the Tyvek covering is visible.
And on Foothill Road, there was this clue….
The most recent county permitting info I have on file for the project doesn’t quite clear things up, as it mentions several buildings: “an addition of approximately 1,411 square feet to the existing 3,684 square foot residence (total 5,095 square feet), reclassification of existing foreman’s house into the main dwelling, new barn of approximately 2,265 square feet, guesthouse of approximately 800 square feet, cabana of approximately 136 square feet, an addition of approximately 107 square feet to the existing attached 408 square foot garage, and landscaping.”
“That structure you see is the Barn,” wrote Brett Ettinger of Ferguson-Ettinger Architects. “It is under construction (hence the white Tyvek waterproofing membrane underlayment). Within the next few weeks, it will be clad in weathered Corten, corrugated metal siding, which will allow the building to recede from view, and take on a more rural barn vernacular.” And he sent this rendering of the Barn from up on the hill looking west.
That’s a heck of a view for a barn, I pointed out. “The main house was originally permitted up there,” explained Ettinger. “But that site gets super windy, so owner decided to build the house lower on a more sheltered site, and put the barn up high on the windy site.” And the south side will be open, as it appears in the photos. You can see shots of the building under construction in a Ferguson-Ettinger Instagram post from January.
Got a question you’d like investigated? Email [email protected] or text 917-209-6473.
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Previous Burning Questions:
↓↓↓ What’s the story behind the seal of the City of Santa Barbara?
••• Butterfly Beach steps, green power lines, SBAG license plates, and more
••• What’s this pole with a flashing blue light?
••• What are these sculptures on the Riviera?
••• What’s the origin story of this fence on Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the housing development under construction next to the polo fields?
••• Why is part of this West Beach mosaic covered in concrete?
••• What was the Weeping Willow Inn?
••• What does the “S” on certain chimneys stand for?
••• What’s the status of the decommissioning of Rincon Island?
••• What happened to the gas flame on Highway 101?
••• What do we know about the proposed apartment complex at 1 Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the history of this tower on Ortega Ridge?
••• What’s up with these sculptures on a hillside in Summerland?
••• Is there a master plan for the new walking paths in Montecito?
••• Why are the Thousand Steps still wet?
••• What’s happening with Sola Street?
••• Why are trees being cut down above the San Ysidro Ranch?
••• Why is this lot on Milpas Street still vacant?
••• Where else do cruise ships that visit here go?
••• What is this large memorial in Ennisbrook?
••• What’s the large building under construction next to Highway 101?
••• Who bought the former St. Mary’s seminary—and why?
••• What will happen to the SBPD building when the new building is completed?
••• How does the city decide to mark bike lanes?
••• What’s the story with this house on W. Cota Street?
••• What are those little houses on Santa Barbara Street?
••• Is the Music Academy of the West adding pedestrian gates?
••• Why does the Coast Village Road median look so bad?
••• What’s the point of this light pole near the freeway?
••• Why are the city’s parking lots scanning license plates?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• Are we no longer allowed on the SBHS baseball field?
••• What does “SBTP” on this post mean?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• Why is Franceschi House in a holding pattern?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Why is there wood on some power lines?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
••• Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart?
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Makes a helluva wind tunnel. People with money and no brains…