U.C. Santa Barbara Purchases Devereux Property

by Martie Levy

On September 28, 2007, U.C. Santa Barbara completed the purchase of the Devereux Foundation property. The property consists of nearly 33 acres divided into North and South Knolls. Since 1948, the Devereux Foundation has operated a school for children and adults with emotional and developmental disabilities. Over the last two years, for a number of reasons, the Devereux Foundation has ceased the operation of its children’s program and consolidated its adult residential program and outpatient services on a portion of the North Knoll.

In December 2006, the campus was approached by representatives of the Devereux Foundation to explore our interest in purchasing their property. Completing the purchase of this property involved a close team effort by staff at the Office of the President and on campus. As the sales offer included a leaseback of buildings for continued operation of an adult program by the Devereux Foundation, negotiations had to be completed on the lease before the purchase could be completed.

 Since 1967, as part of a 267 acre purchase of land from the Devereux Foundation, the campus retained the Right of First Offer and the Right of First Refusal on this property. Our campus completely surrounds the property, with the Coal Oil Point Reserve and Devereux Slough on the west, faculty housing on the east, and our Orfalea Childcare Center program to the north. All access to the site is through our campus. The property enjoys beautiful ocean views, being adjacent to permanent open space on the south and east. There are a total of 33 buildings on the site. As already mentioned, the property is divided into a South and North Knoll. The North Knoll, consisting of approximately 15 acres is directly adjacent to our West Campus Faculty Housing, 65 for-sale units. Acquisition of this property offers the campus an excellent opportunity for expansion of our inventory of affordable housing for both faculty and staff.

An area of approximately four acres, comprising four buildings and a greenhouse is leased back to the Devereux Foundation for a period up to 60 years. Income from this leaseback will be used by the campus to offset the cost of the purchase. The Devereux School has long been an important part of our community and the campus looks forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationship.

Slightly over five acres in the center of the property is environmentally sensitive and the Devereux Foundation granted a permanent easement to the County of Santa Barbara over this land in the mid-1990’s.

The South Knoll consists of approximately 12 acres. Among the buildings on this site is the original Campbell Ranch home. The building was constructed in the 1920’s and with some improvements will be a beautiful office and conference facility. The property provides a variety of building types that include residential, conference, classroom, recreational, and facility support. It is a stunning property combining natural beauty, majestic views, trails, and charming landscaped areas. This extraordinary property will become an integral part of our UCSB campus.

As part of the purchase, the campus completed a series of due diligence studies, including the following appraisals: seismic, environmental, architectural, engineering. The campus employed the service of Studley, Inc. to analyze our financial feasibility assumptions. Upon taking ownership, Chancellor Yang, after consultation with campus constituencies, approved proceeding with development of faculty and staff housing on the North Knoll, and appointed the Devereux Planning Committee to advise him on both the short and long-term use of the South Knoll. The Committee will be looking to develop planning principles, identify the strengths, challenges, and opportunities presented by the property, and in what ways the property can best serve the mission of the University. The Committee expects to complete its work by the Spring of 2007. Over the next six-eight months, the campus will be completing small repairs and renovations to make a few of the buildings available for use, while the Committee completes its evaluation and recommendations.

Martie Levy is Director of Capital Development for UCSB.

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