Get to know Friends of State Street
Revitalizing the heart of Santa Barbara is a collaborative effort that unites passion, creativity, and community support. In this blog post, Sharon Rich, President of Friends of State Street, reflects on her deep connection to State Street and shares her vision for its transformation into a vibrant, sustainable hub for generations to come. With the city’s State Street Master Plan gaining momentum, this is a pivotal time to get involved in shaping the future of our beloved downtown.
Read on to discover why Sharon took an active role in this initiative, what excites her most about the changes ahead, and how you can join Friends of State Street in this exciting journey.
Why did you decide to take an active role in State Street’s revitalization efforts?
I’ve been connected to Santa Barbara for over 30 years, both professionally and personally. As the Executive Director and then Board Chair of the Camarillo Family YMCA, a branch of the Channel Islands YMCA, I frequently attended corporate meetings here. For the past 11 years, I have lived in the area—first in Montecito and now in Santa Barbara. Captivated by State Street’s music, arts, architecture, and history, I always knew I would one day call it home.
The State Street Master Plan process felt like the perfect opportunity for me to give back to this special place. I founded Friends of State Street with a dedicated team of board members to inspire community involvement and support our city in this vital project, ensuring State Street becomes the vibrant and sustainable centerpiece of our city in this new era for generations to come.
What excites you most about the changes happening on State Street?
The city’s State Street Master Planning team’s unprecedented community outreach. Reaching out to the voices from across Santa Barbara in this design process has led to considerable progress. We now have a State Street Master Plan Urban Design Framework and a Short-Term Action Plan.
Looking ahead, the planning team will continue to work on the draft Master Plan, including a public review period featuring engagement events and presentations to various Commissions and Committees. The goal is to present the draft plan to City Council in 2025.
Additionally, I am thrilled with the approval of the new Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID) formation, a significant collaboration between Downtown Santa Barbara (DSB) and the Central Coast Chamber of Commerce. This effort will start delivering special services to address cleanliness, safety, beautification, maintenance, identity, and placemaking—beyond what the city provides—starting in early 2025, ensuring a brighter future for downtown.
These collaborative efforts all coming together made our decision to open our first office at the CEC Hub, 1219 State Street, this past September an easy one. Opening this office represents our ongoing commitment to supporting the Master Plan process and working with our community to ensure the future of State Street.
How can our community become involved?
- Learn: Visit our website for updates and designs at Get Involved.
- Talk: Share pride in the project and engage with neighbors.
- Share: Tell us what you love or your concerns through our website at Get Involved.
- Support: Contribute your time, talent, or treasure. Friends of State Street relies on local talent and community support to bring the vision to life. Donate and create a lasting impact.
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