Santa Barbara City Council has voted to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic, preserving the pedestrian promenade while officials continue planning the corridor’s long-term future.
Decision and Reaction
The council approved the measure in a 5-2 vote following hours of public comment from residents, business owners, and community members who shared differing opinions about the future of the city’s main downtown street.
Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez supported extending the promenade, saying it has become an important gathering place for the community. However, not everyone on the council agreed, with Councilmember Eric Friedman opposing the extension due to concerns from businesses in the northern portion of State Street.
Reaction from people on State Street was mixed, with some supporting the decision to keep the street pedestrian-friendly and others believing businesses have suffered since the street closed to vehicles.
Future Plans
While the vote keeps the existing promenade in place for now, city leaders emphasized it does not determine the final design of State Street. Work on the city’s long-term master plan for the downtown corridor will continue before any permanent changes are made.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
