A couple years ago I spoke to my parents right after they’d seen a new house belonging to one of my dad’s few remaining clients. My mom said, “This place is really unique. It’d make a great topic for a video.” Then she gave me an Ablitt House bookmark. Eventually I contacted the owners, took a tour, and heard the story.
Neil Ablitt buys a 20’x 20’ lot, about the size of a two car garage, near his dry cleaning plant in a commercial district of Santa Barbara, then in 1987 wins a water hook up for it in a lottery. But it was not zoned for a residence, and it was too small to build on, or so he thought. Neighbors disapproved of a house in the alley, the Panning Commission turned him down, and even during the building he never knew how the blueprints would become a reality. Today Neil and his wife Sue give tours of their unique abode.
The film opens with some of the tiny details making up the beauty of the house. But the focus of the documentary is on the people involved. Neil remembers the shack that stood on the lot when he was a boy. He never dreamed he’d one day have a home on that very spot. In early 2000 he meets architect Jeff Shelton who figures out how to get around the commercial zone ordinances. The film shows short clips from the February 2004 Planning Commission meeting where the plans got shot down. Neil, supported by his wife, is seen walking, downcast out of City Hall.
Clips from the appeal to the City Council in April 2004 show the overturning of the decision. “But as we found out,” Neil said, “the challenges were just beginning.” Many artists contributed to the creation of the final project and a couple of them will speak on camera, as well as Jeff Shelton the architect and Dan Upton the contractor who will share how sometimes they didn’t know how to solve problems that arose. Neil took many photos during the process and some of these will be used in the film. His job was to keep his mouth shut, sweep the alley, and stay out of the way, but emotionally he was in it as much as the guys getting their hands dirty. Sue was his rock through it all. Neil, supported by his wife, is seen walking, agitated up West Haley near the building site.
The documentary shows clips from one of the tours Neil gives to thank the community, and from a party for those involved in the construction. Neil, supported by his wife, is seen walking, smiling up the refurbished alley, paseo and into their home. The theme song, “Can’t Get Rid of Me” by Sean Wiggins, plays: “A house don’t make a home. And it’s only in your arms, I’m safe, I’m not alone. As you as my guide, always by my side, our two hearts beating as one, we can take the World on.”
HGTV has featured the house on an episode of Extreme Living, and Huell Howser toured it on an episode of Visiting…With Huell Howser. But this documentary is not about the house, it’s about the people who make it a home.