David Palermo

A cute little corner of West Beach has been transformed into one of the newest luxury living options in Santa Barbara. Literally across the train tracks from the Amtrak station, a stone’s throw from MOXI and the Hotel Californian, and right down the street from Stearns Wharf and the harbor, the West Beach Villas are at the epicenter of everything that epitomizes Santa Barbara’s best beachfront living.

David Palermo

The West Beach Villas comprise seven townhomes situated on part of the land that was once occupied by the Potter Hotel, a 600-room landmark that attracted visitors to Santa Barbara’s waterfront in the beginning of the 20th century. Completed in 2017, three of the seven homes at the West Beach Villas have already been sold. I toured the four remaining units on a blustery afternoon last week.

At 116 West Yanonali is a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home located on the corner of the development closest to the train station. I walked up a brick path and through the arched doorway to find myself in a dramatic, east-facing great room with huge windows showcasing an outdoor courtyard and the mountain views beyond. The gourmet kitchen is certain to be a gathering place, with both counter seating and enough space for a dining table. A fireplace in the corner of the living room made for a cozy focal point on this rainy day. I admired the laundry room next to the garage, but I almost missed the doorway into the master suite, which contains a bedroom plus a luxurious marble bathroom. Upstairs are two more en suite bedrooms. All the bathrooms feature glass-enclosed showers, sleek quartz counters, and custom cabinets. Up one more staircase I discovered my favorite “room” in the house: an outdoor rooftop patio with enough space for a large fireworks-watching party on the Fourth of July, or a great al fresco dinner party almost any night of the year.

David Palermo

I toured the other three available homes and found unique details in each. Number 118 has a charming Juliet balcony off the upstairs master suite, and 120 quite possibly boasts the most impressive rooftop views. The unit at 124 West Yanonali, with the lowest asking price of all four homes, just might be my favorite home of the bunch. Its master suite is on the third floor and features a deliciously deep soaking tub in the master bath. A bathtub with a view always steals my heart, and this one is no exception.

Fortunately, since I’m just looking, I can enjoy all four of these homes. They all have state-of-the-art conveniences, like elevators from the garages to the rooftops, and first-class details, like copper gutters and iron accents. The homes flaunt a quintessential Santa Barbara look, with red-tiled roofs and bright-white walls. Even though raindrops were falling during my visit, with their succulent-filled gardens and palm-laden courtyards, plus their mountain and ocean views, the West Beach Villas still managed to exude an ever-summer Santa Barbara style.

David Palermo

Photos shown are of 116 West Yanonali Street. 116, 118, 120, and 124 West Yanonali Street are currently for sale in Santa Barbara, listed by the Calcagno & Hamilton team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. Reach Calcagno & Hamilton at 565-4000 or info@homesinsantabarbara.com.

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