Project Overview

Victoria Garden Mews LLC sets itself apart from other projects that say they are "Green" by offering the following:

• A model infill project in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Shops, restaurants, entertainment, farmers markets, recreation, and public transportation are all within easy walking distance.
• A super tight building shell; for those units that incorporate passive solar design, interior temperatures vary only 1-½ º in 24 hours irrespective of outdoor temperatures.
• Compliance with Santa Barbara City parking requirements via innovative use of hydraulic car lifts that reduce vehicle paving footprint to a miniscule 2% of the total lot area.
• A Victorian home and multi-unit building that are energy efficient.
• Aging in place features including green elevators accessing each residential level including garages and basement.
• Superior indoor environmental quality through use of non-toxic products, optimum noise reduction and good ventilation.
• Summer cooling provided by moveable awnings, good cross ventilation and Casablanca ceiling fans.

Infographic For a detailed view of the unique features and materials used in Victoria Garden Mews click here.

What makes this a very special GREEN showcase development?

• The sun is central; space heating from passive solar design, electricity from photovoltaic panels and hot water from solar thermal units.
• 100% of lumber originates from sustainably harvested forests (FSC certified) and all concrete uses a 50% fly ash mix.
• 100% fossil fuel free except for minor use in back-up space heating system.
• 100% of rainwater retained on site through collection and reuse, bioswales, and infiltrators.
• Integrated with nature: uncommonly large garden courtyard in a dense urban setting with productive trees, flowering shrubs, a bee hive and abundant birds.

This new multi-family, green residential development, located in the City of Santa Barbara, CA, received a Platinum LEED for Homes certification for each building.

This project is a model for green residential building in southern California. These residences demonstrate how homeowners can conserve energy, natural resources, and dollars by adopting and using the latest in green technology and products. Green showcase tours provide product demonstrations by sponsors and offer visitors the opportunity to learn the latest about energy efficient and environmentally friendly building products, appliances, hardware and services.

There are four residential units on the site. The property includes a single-family Victorian style home, replicating the original home on the property, and three high-end residential units. Parking requirements are met by a garage for eight vehicles, stacked on two levels using hydraulic lifts to conserve space and reduce the concrete footprint.

• Victorian Home: Three bedrooms & two bathrooms 2,300 sq. ft.
• Rear Building, Unit # 1:Three bedrooms & two bathrooms 1,800 sq. ft.
• Rear Building, Unit # 2: Three bedrooms & two bathrooms 1,700 sq. ft.
• Rear Building, Unit # 3: Two bedrooms & two bathrooms 1,200 sq. ft.
• Lot Size: 11,250 sq. ft.
• Full Basement: 1,600 sq. ft.
• Garage: 800 sq. ft.

"As a 35-year builder and one of the future residents of this project, I have never felt more like one of Al Gore's warriors. Building a small community on an infill site is allowing us to take a giant step closer to our goal of living a fully sustainable life. The project will be almost carbon neutral as a result of generating close to 100% of our energy needs from the sun. Hydraulic car lifts reduce the impact of automobiles both on the property and in the community. Minimizing the pressure of cars together with modest living spaces allows for increased density while permitting us to provide more nature in this downtown neighborhood."

— Dennis Allen of Dennis Allen Associates, general contractor and owner

"We are proud to be the architects for such an innovative green infill project. This was a real team effort between the owners, the builder, and us. Victoria Garden Mews LLC brings together ecological elements that we have been working on for years, plus some new one."

— Dennis Thompson and Susette Naylor of Thompson Naylor Architects

"It was an honor and a pleasure to join the team of extremely talented and committed professionals to ‘create the “greenest” project possible’ at Victoria Garden Mews. This project is a model of what’s possible – in sustainable landscaping, in sustainable building, in sustainable living and indeed, in building a sustainable community."

— Margie Grace, Grace Design Associates, landscape design + build

Infographic For a detailed view of the unique features and materials used in Victoria Garden Mews click here.