Goleta, CA
Old Town Goleta
Old Town Goleta is the city's historic core, centered on Hollister Avenue roughly between South Fairview Avenue and Highway 217. New construction and signage along this stretch go through design review under the city's Old Town Heritage District overlay, protecting a streetscape built up over nearly a century. The neighborhood's oldest anchor is the 1927 Goleta Union School building, now the Goleta Valley Community Center, which reopened in April 2024 after a year-long renovation. Hollister Avenue itself has been reshaped in recent years, trading four travel lanes for two and adding bike lanes and back-in diagonal parking. That work is part of Project Connect, Goleta's largest capital improvement effort, rebuilding the Hollister Avenue bridge and adding roundabouts at the Highway 217 interchange, with three roundabouts open by mid-2026 (two at Hwy 217, one at Pine Avenue/Ekwill Street) and full completion targeted for spring 2027. The city has funded storefront upgrades and a public mural for local businesses along the corridor. Armitos Park and Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park anchor its green space, linked by the San Jose Creek path.
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What defines it
- Hollister Avenue between S. Fairview Avenue and Highway 217, protected by the city's Old Town Heritage District design-review overlay
- The 1927 Goleta Union School building, now the Goleta Valley Community Center, reopened April 2024 after a year-long renovation
- Hollister Avenue restriped from four lanes to two, with bike lanes and back-in diagonal parking
- Project Connect, Goleta's largest-ever capital project, is rebuilding the Hollister Avenue bridge and adding roundabouts at the Highway 217 interchange, targeted for spring 2027 completion
- Armitos Park and Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park connected by the San Jose Creek Multi-Purpose Path
The Housing Stock
Old Town Goleta's housing sits within the city's oldest built-out corridor, where new construction and renovation go through design review under the Old Town Heritage District overlay rather than following one master-planned tract layout — a different, more individually built housing pattern than newer developments elsewhere in Goleta.
Frequently asked
Where exactly is Old Town Goleta?
Old Town Goleta centers on Hollister Avenue, roughly from South Fairview Avenue to Highway 217. The city's Old Town Heritage District overlay applies design review to new construction and signage along this same stretch, the closest thing to an official boundary for the neighborhood — it sits entirely inside the City of Goleta rather than forming a separate jurisdiction.
What is Project Connect, and when will it be finished?
Project Connect is Goleta's largest capital improvement project ever undertaken, rebuilding the Hollister Avenue bridge and adding roundabouts at the Highway 217 interchange plus the Ekwill Street and Fowler Road extensions. Three roundabouts had opened by July 2026—two at the Highway 217 interchange, one more at Pine Avenue/Ekwill Street—with the Ekwill Street extension still under construction and full project completion targeted for spring 2027.
Is Hollister Avenue still walkable with construction underway?
Yes. A recent restriping converted Hollister Avenue through Old Town from four travel lanes to two, adding bike lanes and back-in diagonal parking. The corridor also connects via the San Jose Creek Multi-Purpose Path to Armitos Park and Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park.
What school will my kids attend?
Old Town Goleta falls under the Goleta Union School District through grade 6, with older students moving on to Santa Barbara Unified campuses. The current Hollister Elementary building at 4950 Anita Lane opened in 1980 — the historic 1927 schoolhouse it replaced now serves as the community center. On GreatSchools, Hollister Elementary carried an 8/10 rating when checked in July 2026.
What's the dining and shopping scene like in Old Town?
Old Town's commercial corridor along Hollister Avenue is built around small, independently owned businesses rather than big-box retail — family-run restaurants like Los Altos Mexican Restaurant, which opened in 2023, and long-running shops such as Larry's 8 Day Auto Parts. In 2025 the city awarded 22 local grants totaling $120,000 through its Pride of Place program to fund storefront improvements and murals.
Are there parks nearby?
Armitos Park, at South Kellogg and Armitos Avenues, is home to the city's first community garden and a playground. Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park, a block away at 170 South Kellogg Avenue, added a pickleball court, skateboard plaza, and basketball court when it opened in March 2019. The San Jose Creek path connects the two.
