McCarthy Companies has been selected by the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) to provide preconstruction services for the development of Monteria Village in Santa Barbara. The recently signed contract will lay the groundwork for a transformative affordable housing project that will replace a 28-unit HUD-assisted public housing development built in 1973 and add 52 new affordable apartments on Santa Barbara’s Westside for a total of 80 affordable multifamily units. The development leverages HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which enabled HACSB to successfully reposition its entire HUD-assisted public housing inventory to access equity funding for rehabilitation and improvements.
“This redevelopment offers us a rare opportunity to deliver high-quality affordable housing more quickly and efficiently by building on an existing site,” said Pete McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer at McCarthy Companies. “Working alongside the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, our goal is to accelerate delivery of homes for families who need them the most without compromising care, craftsmanship, or quality.”
Located at 305 Rancheria St, Monteria Village will remove nine aging buildings constructed in 1973 and replace them with four modern buildings containing 16 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom, and 14 three-bedroom apartments across 43,266 square feet of new construction on the 90,484 square-foot site. The development will also feature a community room for residents and dedicated spaces for supportive services, including office areas and common spaces designed to foster community connection. Services and amenities are intended to encourage and support family life and community building, addressing the comprehensive housing needs of low-income households in one of California’s most expensive housing markets.
“At the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, our mission is to create not just housing but homes that families can be proud of. Monteria Village represents a promise to our Westside community: replacing outdated buildings with safe, modern apartments that nearly double the number of families we can serve. Partnering with McCarthy Companies allows us to deliver high-quality, affordable homes in one of the most challenging housing markets, ensuring that more local families have the stability and dignity they deserve,” said Rob Fredericks, Executive Director/CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara.
This effort reflects HACSB’s ongoing commitment to addressing affordable housing through innovative and cost-effective solutions. By repurposing an existing development, the agency can deliver safe, stable homes more quickly and efficiently by avoiding the need to acquire land, which can be both expensive and time-consuming. By nearly doubling the unit count from the original development, Monteria Village will not only provide essential housing stability for low-income families but also serve as an actionable model for similar redevelopment projects. The project highlights the importance of preserving and expanding affordable housing in high-cost communities like Santa Barbara, where low-income families can face increasing displacement pressures.
