Two properties, the residence on two acres and the adjoining one acre building site. An idyllic family refuge and venue for large business gatherings or social events. Just three miles from downtown Santa Barbara, the design, materials, workmanship and rural setting of the residence and the surrounding gardens offer the privacy and pride of ownership ...found in a large Montecito estate and the assurance that guests will look forward to a return visit. Readily convertible to five en suite bedrooms. Rare opportunity to build another family residence, additional guest housing or an artist's studio on the adjacent one acre parcel.
These properties are part of a tract of land at the lower end of Alamar Canyon, known since the early nineteen hundreds as Willowbrook Ranch. Over the years the tract has been home to a dairy operation, an ostrich farm, a miniature horse ranch and a boarding stable. Zoned for horses, the area offers easy access to local trails and the Jesusita Trailhead. Forty two acres of this tract have recently come on the market; a sixteen acre parcel on the northern rim of the canyon and five parcels in the valley below.
Offered herein are two of the five valley parcels. Two of the other valley parcels as well as the one on the ridge, all owned by another party, are currently in escrow., The remaining parcel; the seven acres immediately in front of the residence is available at $900,000 from this seller. This additional property is well suited for the construction of another residence or guest housing, an equine facility or a sports field. It could also become part of a ten acre estate, with its walking trails and its fruit and avocado orchards.
Unlike almost everywhere else in Santa Barbara, the occupants and guests will not be scene in this exclusive rural enclave. Accessed only by a quarter mile long private road winding through a mountain pass, these parcels are isolated from the sights and sounds of the city by the tree covered hillsides. While providing the ultimate in privacy, they are within four minutes of the Loreto Plaza Shopping Center, five of the Cottage Hospital complex and ten of the Civic Center. The relationship between these five parcels, the adjacent Mission Canyon and access to the City is shown on the accompanying photos.
The residence itself is approached by way of a 350 foot long tree and foliage lined gravel drive that passes through the seven acres, terminating at a motor court that can accommodate ten or fifteen cars. Only at this point does the residence come into view. The low sloping roof line of the residence, tall capped windows and soaring square central tower suggest its Italianate origins. The tile roof, stucco walls and the Moroccan window grid next to the portico introduce a Mediterranean element.
Entering the residence, the visitor is struck by the size of the reception area, 20 by 24 and 33 feet in height, and by the elegant circular staircase and bridge that connects the two suites on the second floor. The image is further enhanced by its plank and beam ceiling, the imported tile floor and the sculpted Venetian style plaster walls.
Twelve foot ceilings, ten foot tall doorways and truly superb woodwork extend the scale and ambiance of the reception hall throughout the entire house. The reclaimed planks and beams were sourced from the structure a saw mill that was dismantled some three decades ago. Nearly all of the exterior walls are 15 inches thick, evocative of early Mediterranean structures made of brick or stone. They enable the installation of pocket window screens and the use of paneled frames surrounding the doorways and deeply inset windows. In addition, the thick walls are far more effective as thermal and acoustic barriers than the conventional construction.
Upon being greeted in the reception area, guests would be directed to the living room, dining room or outside to the veranda; perhaps for a guided tour around the gardens or to sit and enjoy the serenity of running water. The living room is no less striking than the reception area. Two bay windows, another element of Italianate design, open the room to the gardens outside. The Count Rumford fireplace is also of the Italianate Period.
The living room and the formal dining room are open to one another through wide double sliding doors. Taken together, they provide nearly a thousand square feet of meeting area. The dining room is connected to the country kitchen through the butler's pantry and a sliding food service door over the kitchen counter.
The kitchen is designed to accommodate a large family dining table. Along with the butler's pantry and adjacent storage-linen room, it can meet the food preparation and service requirements of large formal dinners in the residence or for even larger gatherings outside. The Italianate window over the triple sink offers a panoramic view of the gardens beyond.
For the accommodation of family members there are three downstairs bedrooms that share a full bath and a half bath. The proposed floor plan for the five en suite baths is shown in the photos.
Upstairs, the master bedroom suite opens to two balconies. From the balcony directly off of the bath, one may enjoy superb mountain sunsets. The patio off of the bedroom, enclosed by a low wall, looks out upon the gardens to the rear and early morning sunrises.
Equally spacious as the master bedroom suite, there is a large room and bath across the bridge. They could serve as a second bedroom suite, as a school room, as a conference room or office, or as an artist's studio. In this case the conversion to an en suite bath involves the addition of an additional doorway.
The nearly three acres of gardens encircle the motor court and residence, and then continue over 350 feet to the rear of the one acre parcel. Some nine hundred feet of stone lined seasonal creek, with seven crossings or bridges, unify the three properties. There are fourteen hundred lineal feet of stone walkways that wind around the house and through the rear gardens. These are not English Gardens. Nature abhors symmetry. Plants are intermingled with trees, bushes, grasses and vines competing for the sunlight. There are dozens of mature trees including a number of coastal oaks. Also located on the one acre parcel are a 500 square foot private garden, entirely enclosed by a Eugenia hedge, and a long dead vine covered eucalyptus tree.
Reminiscent of the famous Botanical Gardens just a mile to the east in the next canyon, only far more intimate, the one acre's parklike environment offers an excellent location for another residence or a guest house. Eminently buildable, the use that most immediately comes to mind however, in consideration of it's "almost in a world of its own" surroundings, is the location of an artist's studio.
In summary, this property stands out in the Santa Barbara market in a number of ways. Here a family can enjoy the Santa Barbara life style along with the ability to entertain in spacious retreat like surroundings. There are few if any locations in Santa Barbara where six valley parcels constitute an entire micro community of 42 acres, literally within minutes of shopping, medical care and the central downtown business area, yet physically and visually separated from the population at large by the encircling hillsides. There is very little awareness that the properties even exist. This is an opportunity to own two , three or all 6 parcels comprising Willowbrook Ranch.
The quality of materials, workmanship and design details are however far above the others in its price range. Further, it has been many years since a readily buildable, landscaped one acre parcel within minutes of the Civic Center.
Oft times known as Silicon Beach, Santa Barbara is emerging as a major center of innovation at the national level. One reason is that the sea shores, the mountains and the Mediterranean climate enable established corporations to attract the best employees. Another is that the University and the City College are breeding grounds for startup enterprises.
Further, there is no room for expansion in the Silicon Valley. Office space in Palo Alto is limited and costly. Home prices are twice those of Santa Barbara. Overpopulation, with the resulting traffic and crime problems, is driving away potential employees. Further migration of Silicon Industries to Santa Barbara is inevitable.
And there is yet another reason to invest in this property, a reason that goes beyond immediate needs or the potential for future benefit. That is to ensure ownership of a site for the development of a purpose built multi-generation Santa Barbara family compound sometime in the future. The reality is however that two adjacent parcels located near the center of the city are becoming ever more difficult to find. Exponentially more difficult will be the finding of three adjacent parcels; the option available with the purchase of the adjacent seven acres. Potentially a very wise investment during these times of low interest rates and economic uncertainty, the purchase of these properties could more importantly be the basis of a family legacy that will endure for decades to come.
