Construction Begins on 83-Acre Goleta Project

Construction has begun on a $45-million community retail and entertainment project near UC Santa Barbara that will include a park and other recreational facilities.

The 83-acre Camino Real project south of Highway 101 in the unincorporated Santa Barbara County community of Goleta will rank as one of the largest retail developments in the area, according to Mark Linehan, owner of Wynmark, the Santa Barbara-based real estate firm developing the project.

The development, which will feature Mission-style architecture and public plazas, will include 500,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space. Its 47-acre shopping area, which will be called the Marketplace, will be divided into sections for major retail tenants such as Costco, Home Depot, Staples, CompUSA and Linens ‘n Things, as well as for smaller businesses. There will be space devoted to movie theaters, restaurants and neighborhood convenience stores.

The retail portion of the project, which was designed by the Pasadena office of MCG Architects, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

“The project has been designed as a central gathering spot to shop and play for the entire community of Goleta,” said Brian Tiedge, a partner in the architectural firm.

As part of the project, Wynmark will also build a community park, outdoor roller hockey rink, ice rink, baseball and soccer fields and basketball courts. The 36-acre park will help buffer a nearby residential community from the commercial development.