Low-income families prioritized in new 48-unit affordable housing project

Friday is move-in day for the future tenants of the Bella Vista apartment complex, the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara’s newest affordable housing project reserved for low-income families. The project brings 48-units to 200 North La Cumbre Road, an area chosen for its proximity to Hope Elementary School, grocery stores and public transit. According to Housing Authority Deputy Executive Director Dale Fathe-Aazam, it’s the perfect family neighborhood. The process began in 2019, when the Housing Authority purchased the property. After years of permitting and 18 months of construction, Mayor Randy Rowse cut the ribbon opening Bella Vista at a ceremony on Monday. The ground floor of the Bella Vista apartment complex is outlined by community garden spaces (Photo by Sofia Wallace/Santa Barbara News-Press) “After all the hard work, it was nice to take a minute and look at all the people it took to get us here,” Fathe-Aazam said. “It was a job well done. We did pretty good.” R