State Street is often called "the heart" of Santa Barbara, the city's main street and the engine of downtown's culture and economy.

Like a lot of American downtowns, State Street has had its ups and downs, including a stretch of declining retail and rising vacancies in the years leading up to 2020. That year, the City closed the street to vehicle traffic and let restaurants build parklets and outdoor dining into the open roadway. These seven blocks have remained closed to cars ever since, and the change has transformed the public space at the center of our city.

Locals and visitors have flocked to State Street for food, shopping, markets, and city-sponsored events, and a number of business owners have reported increased revenue as a result. Commercial vacancy along the corridor is now lower than it was before the closure.

The car-free street gets used by people from every part of the community. Families walk through downtown without worrying about traffic. Teens and young adults hang out there after school and work. Locals and visitors enjoy the nightlife after dark, in a space built for people instead of cars.

Walk down State Street on any given evening and it's easy to see why people love it: kids riding bikes down the middle of the road, friends gathered around a table that used to be a parking spot, the farmers market spilling across blocks that used to be gridlocked with cars. Business owners who've worked on State Street for decades say this is the best version of the street they've seen in a long time. It's not just a road anymore. It's Santa Barbara's main street, its public square, its bike route, and its community living room, all at once.