The Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart were established in Germany in 1866. Political problems led them to relocated to Illinois in 1883. Today the Sisters run many health care facilities through out the Americas.
Their hospital in Santa Barbara was originally known as Quisisana Sanitarium in 1907. Current buildings date from around the time of the 1925 earthquake (adobe and redbrick), but with major (concrete) additions in the 1950’s.
The site is roughly 7.5 acres, south facing, with a 12% grade. It is approached from State Street roughly 5 blocks on Michael Torena Ave. The SW faces medical offices and appartments while the North and East face smaller Bungalow style single family homes.
Due to its small size the hospital had run a deficit of $12 million from 1999-2003. It also facecd nearly $15 million in sesimic retrofits. In 2003 the old hospital was purchased by Cottage Health Systems for $18 million.
Cottage is interested in demolishing the hospital and building new housing for its own hospital employees on a "subsidized" and limited basis. The exisiting convent is to be closed, but the related senior housing center has received a pledge to either save it or provide similar accomodations in the area.
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