The Goleta Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday recommended approval of plans to restore the historic Barnsdall-Rio Grande Gas Station and construct a new cafe adjacent to the landmark, a key step in the broader renovation of the Sandpiper Golf Club. The commission voted 5-0 to forward the project plan to the Goleta Planning Commission for further consideration.
The Sandpiper Golf Club overhaul, spearheaded by Ty Warner, owner of the club and CEO of Beanie Babies, includes the demolition and reconstruction of the existing clubhouse, with both above- and below-ground components. Central to the project is the preservation of the gas station, located at 7825 Hollister Ave., which was designated a county landmark in 1990. The station ceased operations after Highway 101 was rerouted in the 1950s.
The proposed plan calls for restoring the 349-square-foot gas station to its original condition and repurposing it as patron seating for the new 695-square-foot cafe. The cafe itself will be designed to resemble a vintage gas station service bay, incorporating interpretive displays detailing the history of the site. Architect Barry Winick, who also participated in the restoration of the Coral Casino and the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, told the commission that the design will maintain original elements even as incorporating modern updates.
A notable feature of the cafe will be electric bicycle charging pumps designed to mimic vintage gas pumps, according to Winick. The project also includes plans to bury existing overhead power lines in front of the gas station and throughout the Sandpiper Golf Club property, to improve views.
Preservationists have long advocated for the gas station’s restoration. A petition launched by Goleta History in 2015 garnered nearly 3,000 signatures, and the Goleta City Council announced a deal to save the structure in June of that year. The building is considered an “exquisite expression of Moorish architecture,” with distinctive blue and white tilework, wooden windows, a tower, and a cupola, according to Fermina Murray, Vice Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and an architectural historian.
While the commission expressed enthusiasm for the project, some concerns were raised regarding potential traffic and parking issues, given the proximity of a planned Class IV bike trail and limited parking availability. Neighbors expressed concern that the cafe’s popularity could lead to overflow parking on nearby streets.
The project now moves to the Goleta Planning Commission for review. A date for that review has not yet been announced.
