1620 East Mountain Drive
Montecito, California 93108

Permit and Building History

1918 Sanborn Map shows a small 1 story residence or cottage on the property of roughly 30'x35' about 50' south of the existing 1940 residence. This is adjacent to other cottages belonging to the "San Ysidro Ranch Hotel and Cottages" run by Mrs. H. Johnston.

1940, August 2, owner Firmin V. Desloge applied for a building permit for the construction of a 1 story framed residence and accessory garage. He employed the architectural firm of Edwards and Plunkett with C.M. Upton as the contractor. Building permit 367 was issued. The estimated cost for both was $22,000. There is a detailed sketch of the new residence on the back of the building permit.

1942 Sanborn Map shows footprint of the 1940 residence and is labeled as owned by F.V. Desloge. The old 1 story residence or cottage was more than likely removed when construction began on the new residence, and does not appear on the updated map.

1953, November 24, contractor Clayton Wooley Cook pulled on Application for User Permit for owner J. B. Morse to convert the existing garage on the property into an 880 square foot Guest Cottage. The architect listed on the application is Lutah Riggs. The diagram of the property as drawn show the 1940 exiting residence, the old garage labeled as "proposed guest cottage", a lath house and a tool shed. The latter two buildings are to the north of the old garage. The permit issued for this was #1790 for $5.00 and field inspected on December 15, 1953. There is a note that refers to the " provisions of old #453" may have been another building permit and reference to a letter addressed to Morse regarding the Guest Cottage dated November 30, 1953.

1954, October 28, contractor Edward Bates pulled another Application for Use Permit for owner J.B. Morse to add a 360' studio, estimated to cost $1,600. The architect listed is once again Lutah Riggs. The permit number is 2538. The proposed studio was to the east of the lath house. Once again there is a note that refers to the "provisions of old #453" may have been another building permit.

1979, July 25, owner William B. Witmer applied for a Land Use Rider, permit #61250 for a remodel to the existing residence. Cost estimated to be $4,700. Architectural plans dated July 17, 1979 show the addition of two bay windows on the north elevation of the residence. James Edward Morris is listed the architect. This is the first remodel of the existing residence.

1979, December 17, owner Witmer (misspelled as "Witman" on the permit) applied for a Land Use Rider, permit #61933 for a "carport addition". Cost estimated to be $2,300. The addition was approved two days later by the Planning Department, County of Santa Barbara, and is drawn on the attached plot plan north of the existing residence. Plans were approved by the County Building Department on July 26, 1979.

Field Research conducted by Jean-Guy Dube at the County of Santa Barbara Building Department on 9/19/2013 which is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Holly McKenna

(805) 886-8848

hmckenna@verizon.net