••• Every week or two, someone asks when the ornate Mission Inn (on State Street between Islay and Pedregosa) will be done. I tried reaching out to owner Dario Pini to no avail, but someone on site told me the other day that the rooms are basically finished, and the hotel should be open in six months or so. I may have to book a room just to get a better look.
••• According to the February 2 agenda of the Architectural Board of Review, the office building at 114 E. Haley Street is likely to be converted to a 37-room hotel. That corridor would really be better served by housing.
••• The Free People store on Los Patos Way has opened. It has a lovely outdoor space… for men to wait while women shop?
••• Trevor Noah returns to the Santa Barbara Bowl on August 1 and 2.
••• The Radius Commercial Real Estate’s year-end report says that UCSB added yet again to its holdings downtown with the purchase of 25 W. Cota Street and 530 Chapala Street.
••• Cottage Hospital is looking to expand. From the Planning Commission’s February 5 agenda (rendering by Cearnal Collective):
The 2.4-acre lot [at 419 W. Pueblo Street] is currently developed with the Cottage Hospital Pueblo Parking Structure (containing an 1,840-square-foot bike parking room and a 1,210-square-foot retail space), an 8,202-square-foot childcare center, a 19-space surface parking lot and a 188-square-foot storage structure. The proposed project includes demolition of the 19-space surface parking lot and 188-square-foot storage structure and construction of a 6,847-square-foot two-story childcare center building. The new building would expand the existing 8,202- square-foot childcare center, which provides childcare services exclusively for Cottage Hospital employees. The new building is comprised of a 4,882-square-foot ground floor childcare center with a 410-square-foot lobby and 1,667-square-foot second floor office area, and an outdoor play area within the interior courtyard.
••• Tangerine Falls has been highlighted in social media in recent weeks, and now someone has created a makeshift sign pointing the way. I strongly advise against it. Back before the series of storms came through, I tried hiking there and aborted midway. I have since learned that the land is private, the trail is unmaintained, the risk of ticks is high, and I was lucky not to run into poison oak. (After I wrote this, a hiker had to be airlifted out. Don’t let that be you.)
••• I received an envelope with cash—and no other identifying info—at my P.O. box, which was quite a surprise. If it was meant as a tip, thank you! (And if it was meant as a bribe, no thank you!) As much as I appreciate the gesture and cash, there’s really no need for anyone else to follow suit.
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Omg the Mission Inn has been under construction for 10 years! What is the story behind this place!? Bizarre !
They could have finished that hotel a year ago if they didn’t put ornamentation over every square inch of the building. I have never seen a building in Santa Barbara (yes, even Jeff Shelton buildings) with so much STUFF on it. The street elevation is tame enough but if you go fill up at that gas station and look at the building…yeesh!