MONTECITO, CA – After nearly two years of preparation and permitting, extensive renovations just broke ground at the 20,000 square-foot retail and office center at 1187 Coast Village Road in Montecito. The exterior improvements will include the installation of a new roof, parking lot, decking, painting, exterior patios, lighting, signage, doors, landscaping, elevator and repair and replacement of supports. The work will proceed in phases to enable all businesses to remain open during construction.

Coast Village Plaza is located at the heart of Coast Village Road, with retail tenants including Giovanni’s Pizza, Here’s the Scoop, The Tennis Shop, UPS, Norvell Bass Cleaners, Riviera Smiles, Sequel Salon, and Richie’s Barber Shop. In addition to these successful businesses, three retail spaces suited for food and beverage uses are being marketed for lease by Francois DeJohn and Michael Martz of Hayes Commercial Group. Each space will offer an exclusive new patio area for outdoor seating.

Montecito residents Hank Hurst and Richard Rosin of H&R Investments purchased the property in October 2014 with the plan to improve the property to its full potential. They assembled a team including the design firm eID, Michael Hurst Designs, Tryon Company and Schipper Construction.

“The owner’s vision for the property is to create a pedestrian-friendly gathering place at the center of Montecito’s retail corridor,” DeJohn said. “Coast Village Plaza will be a lifestyle center offering an incredible location for restaurants, coffee and wine uses, boutiques and many other businesses geared towards local consumption and use. It is very exciting to see the improvements finally underway, and we can’t wait to see our community enjoy this revitalized property.” 

“This transformation ­ combined with 60 on-site parking spaces and its central location within the lower village ­ will make Coast Village Plaza one of the premier commercial properties in Montecito,” Martz said.

The exterior renovation is scheduled for completion by July 2017, while office spaces on the lower level will be complete by November 2016. Renderings of the approved renovations are attached.