Is Santa Barbara Developer Ed St. George Tilting at Solvang’s Windmills?
Plans for Hotels, Apartments, Restaurants, and Public Buildings Face Strong Opposition in the Santa Ynez Valley
Solvang’s new mayor, Ryan Toussaint, pledged to shake things up big-time when he ran for office more than a year ago in the land of windmills and æbleskivers. So far, he’s been true to his word.
To generate municipal cash flow and give the Danish-themed village a dramatic makeover, Toussaint, a Solvang native and tech-geek entrepreneur, teamed up with Santa Barbara landlord and developer Ed St. George. At Tuesday’s special City Council meeting, however, St. George’s expansive four-story plans to cure what ails Solvang got an angry earful.
The mixed-use plans — which include a European-style plaza, restaurants, hotels, 125 dwellings, and public administration buildings — were blistered by a crowd of about 250 residents, both virtual and in the flesh. They argued that the proposed project would destroy Solvang’s character while eliminating the Veterans’ Memorial Building, where so many had danced, met their spouses, celebrated anniversaries, and played “turkey” bingo.
