City: life-safety inspection led to red tag of Casa de la Raza; community urges purchase, repairs

City Administrator Ms. McAdoo told the Santa Barbara City Council that a recent inspection during a walk-through with the real estate representatives for a building in bankruptcy led staff to ‘‘red tag’’ the former Casa de la Raza building because of ‘‘serious life safety concerns.’’ The administrator said the City is finalizing a notice of violations that will be served on the property owner, who has 30 days to begin compliance and corrections.

Why it matters: Casa de la Raza is a long‑standing cultural and community center on Santa Barbara’s Westside that speakers and residents said serves seniors, artists, youth and other vulnerable residents. Council members and dozens of public commenters pressed the council and staff for options to reopen or preserve the resource while repairs proceed.

At the council meeting McAdoo said the building department and the fire department will ‘‘help to answer questions and work with the owners to bring the building back into compliance for occupancy,’’ and emphasized that ‘‘the private property owner is responsible for the repairs to the building.’’ She also framed the city’s steps as a response to immediate life‑safety risks observed during the inspection with the building’s realtors.

During the public comment period more than two dozen speakers described the building’s community role and urged city action. Oliver Banales Vallejo, who identified himself as a longtime community member and descendant of leaders associated with La Casa, asked the council to ‘‘heavily consider the purchasing and restoration of the cultural center upon clearing litigation and eventual sale of the building.’’ Pastor Jerry Menchaca told the council: ‘‘We need help, and we need it now.’’ Other speakers — seniors, musicians, nonprofit leaders and arts advocates — described programs and services they said would be disrupted while the building remains closed.

Council members acknowledged the community’s concerns and said they would explore options. Council Member Santa Maria, whose district includes the building, said she would ‘‘work diligently with our staff to explore every possible avenue’’ to keep the community resource available either at the current site or elsewhere. Council Member Gutierrez told speakers: ‘‘We all care about La Casa as well, and we’re going to do our best to see what we could do to help.’’

What the city said it will do: McAdoo told the council the city is finalizing the notice of violations and will serve it on the owner; the owner will have 30 days to ‘‘begin and actively pursue compliance and correction of the violations.’’ The building and fire departments, she said, would provide technical assistance to answer questions from the owner and community partners. McAdoo also said staff is available to ‘‘engage in further dialogue’’ with community members and partners.

What the council did: There was no motion or vote to purchase or assume ownership of the building during the meeting. Council members and staff repeatedly framed next steps as investigatory and supportive rather than as a formal acquisition or emergency expenditure; no formal appropriation or decision to buy or accept ownership was made.

Context and background: Speakers recalled that the city designated Casa de la Raza as historically significant in 2020 and stressed the building’s cultural and social services history. McAdoo referred to the inspection that prompted the red tag as a recent, documented life‑safety inspection performed while city staff accompanied real estate representatives handling the property’s bankruptcy process.

Community reaction and next steps: Residents asked the city for short‑term accommodations — such as identifying portions of the site that might be safely reopened or listing alternative community spaces — and for longer‑term options, including possible city purchase or public‑private support. The city said it will continue to coordinate with the building and fire departments, community partners and the property owner while the notice of violations process unfolds.

Ending: The council did not adopt emergency measures or binding directives to acquire or seize the property at the meeting. Instead, members pledged additional staff engagement, and the building department will complete and serve the notice of violations that starts the owner’s 30‑day compliance timeline.