••• The Historic Landmarks Commission’s July 1 agenda includes splitting the block bordered by Garden, De La Guerra, Ortega, and Laguna into two lots; demolishing the five buildings (home to 48 apartments) along Garden Street; and constructing two new buildings (38 and 66 units each) for affordable senior housing. It’s Spanish Colonial–ish, natch, but with welcome diversity in the facades, and the new buildings wouldn’t be below grade, the way they are now. And yes, yes, yes to the pink! But I’ll miss the pepper trees, which are not part of the plan. Renderings courtesy Cearnal Collective.
••• The Montecito Community Mart’s lemonade stand returns on weekend afternoons in July and August. “We provide the venue, the stand, the cups, the dispenser, and the promotion. You (and your friends, family, kids, or whomever you wish*) work the stand and provide your favorite lemonade recipe. After a nominal fee, all proceeds from the sale of lemonade are yours to donate to the charity of your choosing.” Hope they take Venmo! There’s more info here. *Let’s not ask the nanny to do this.
••• Now open in Old Town Goleta, inside the Hollister Barber Shop: Neighborhood Bunker, a single-bay indoor golf simulator.
••• During an entertaining coffee date, Anne Pazier of Santa Barbara Gift Baskets mentioned that she might be ready to embark on a new chapter. If you think you might be interested in getting in to the gift-basket business, reach out to her directly for the details, or I can put you in touch.
••• “What is the purpose of the fire signs around Montecito?” asks M. “What does each stage mean and how often do they get updated? If it’s Extreme, are people not supposed to throw their cigarettes out the window? Don’t burn their trash? (That was sarcasm.) Bigger question, what is Montecito doing to proactively prevent a catastrophic fire like the Palisades? It would be great to understand how the community can help (beyond clearing brush around your property).” First, the various levels are explained on the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s website. Second, the Montecito Fire Department directs us to two pages of its website: one about wildfire prevention and preparedness (most of which centers on defensible space), and to The Vegetation Management and Wildfire Prevention Story Map, which “provides an opportunity to view the Montecito Fire Department’s numerous wildfire mitigation projects and to see how they strengthen our community’s resilience to wildfire.” Third, you actually can burn agricultural trimmings, if you get a permit.
••• A few more thoughts about the potential addition of a second railroad track along Padaro Lane (some of which was in last week’s roundup of new listings): I took another look at the trees on the north side of the street, and if adding a second railroad track requires 30 to 40 feet of clearance south of the existing track, the change will be drastic—most, if not all, of the trees between the track and the street will have to be cut down. (While there are some eucalyptuses, mainly near the Loon Point end, the majority of the trees are other varieties.) And residents on Padaro aren’t the only ones who will be affected: that stretch is part of the California Coastal Trail, and a delight to stroll, bike, or drive—which will not be the case if the trees are replaced by another soulless, ugly sound wall that makes our neck of the woods look like the Inland Empire. I’m a fan of rail travel, but the burden is on LOSSAN to prove that (a) there is no other remotely viable option, such as utilizing the space between the train tracks and the freeway, even if it’s difficult and more expensive; (b) the increased capacity really is necessary, now and in the next few decades, and that this is not a well-intentioned, build-it-and-they-will-come initiative. The stretch of coast from Ventura to San Luis Obispo will never be as densely populated as the area between Los Angeles and San Diego, which means the demand for train travel will never be as high here as it is there. And before you disagree, please go see Padaro Lane for yourself.
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter and you’ll never miss a post.
Comment: