Living in The Mesa Santa Barbara
The Mesa area of Santa Barbara obtains its name naturally from the mostly flat, elevated land feature on which it rests. Located along the south-facing coastline between downtown Santa Barbara and Hope Ranch, the Mesa stretches along 2.5 miles of beach and approximately a half mile adjacent land. Many of the homes in the area run along the ocean’s bluff and make up a large part of the oceanfront real estate in Santa Barbara. These homes, along with hillside estates resting on the gently sloped terrain of the upper mesa, boast some of the most magnificent ocean and especially island views of anywhere in Santa Barbara. With these up close and personal ocean views, combined with its proximity to the beach (easy walking distance), the Mesa offers a unique “vacation lifestyle” for beach lovers . There are even a select number of homes that face north and offer panoramic views of the city, the historic Santa Barbara Mission, the Riviera, and back down the coastline toward Ventura. All the homes on the Mesa are no more than a few blocks from the beach.
The Mesa Santa Barbara Neighborhood Map
Why Locals Love The Mesa Santa Barbara
Housing Market in The Mesa
Recently, new residential developments on both sides of Cliff Drive have been completed, and there are a few more slated to start development over the next few years. Condos and townhomes on the Mesa have sold for between $400,000 and $1.5 million over the past couple of years. Single-family homes range between $600,000 and over $4 million.
Lifestyle in The Mesa
The sense of community in this neighborhood is strong, kept lively by its associations of artists and businessmen, and its unique community paper, The Mesa Paper. The beautiful natural environs are a great source of its residents’ pride, from its beaches and parks to the 70 acre nature preserve on its western bluffs, The Douglas Family Preserve.
Schools in The Mesa
The two primary schools on the Mesa are Monroe Elementary and Washington Elementary, both within the Santa Barbara Unified School District. The Mesa is also home to Olive Grove Charter School and Conscious Kids Preschool. Santa Barbara High School and Santa Barbara Junior High are within a 10 minute drive.
Architecture in The Mesa
The Mesa offers a variety of architectural styles ranging from Spanish/Mediterranean architecture to Mid-Century Modern. Much of the Alta Mesa is filled with 3 bedroom "Post and Beam" gems offering effortless indoor/outdoor living.
Dining in The Mesa
The Mesa also has its own collection of shops and restaurants along the intersection of Cliff Drive and Meigs Road, which provides convenience and a small-town feel away from the crowds of people downtown.
Drive Times in The Mesa
Cliff Drive acts as the main thoroughfare of the Mesa area. Residents are only a few minutes from downtown, Santa Barbara City College, the Santa Barbara Harbor, Shoreline Park, Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry’s Beach), and Elings Park.