Author: Erik Torkells

September 18, 2019

City Council Chooses Police Station Over Farmer’s Market

And in other news: Insurance algorithms cause consternation; new womenswear boutique on E. Haley; Funk Zone mural debate; Milpas Street improvements.

September 17, 2019

Progress on the Las Positas/Modoc Road Multiuse Path

And in other recent news: Montecito bridge delays; U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill banning new offshore drilling; looking back at when people wintered in Montecito; the Tree of the Month.

September 16, 2019

Funk Zone Farm Has Closed

And in other food-related news: Jeanine's has opened a fourth location; Rascal's pop-up schedule; and Bettina's peach-and-poblano pizza.

September 14, 2019

Fresh Out of the Box in the San Marcos Preserve

Five newly listed properties that don’t warrant posts of their own, including a veritable resort in Montecito; a 1930s San Roque charmer; an outdoor entertaining haven off Milpas; and a vacant lot in Hope Ranch.

September 13, 2019

The Latest Push for Public Access to Hollister Ranch Beaches

And in other recent news: Santa Barbara's second pot shop has opened; more development coming to the Funk Zone; comparing the sites for a new police headquarters; hikers saved by putting a message in a bottle.

Adorable 1920s House Seeks Someone With Money and Patience

Also newly reduced: Brand-new Montecito house down $300,000 after only five weeks on the market; Riven Rock Road property with a killer view; Hope Ranch chateau now available for less than the owner paid; funky Gaudí-inspired villa.

September 12, 2019

A 300-Acre Ranch That’s Been Decorated With Gusto

The Quail H Ranch in Santa Ynez is a gentleman rancher's dream come true. Or maybe a gentleman vintner's: According to the listing, it's "ideal for establishing a premium Bordeaux varietal vineyard."

September 11, 2019

Is the Bridge Over San Ysidro Creek Ever Going to Get Repaired?

"Are there any plans to fix the bridge that used to link San Ysidro Lane and E. Mountain Drive, before the debris flow destroyed it?" asks F. "It was a handy way for residents on the E. Mountain side to reach the Ranch for dinner." Here's a report on the project's status.

September 10, 2019

This 1930 Montecito Villa Has Been Made to Look Even Older

In 2014, someone bought the 1930 house at 848 Picacho Lane for $5.5 million. Now it's on the market for $15 million.

September 9, 2019

One of the Largest Lots in the Bungalow District

Four-tenths of an acre might not sound like much, but in the Bungalow District, it's a veritable kingdom. At 1321 Alta Vista Road—about three times the size of its neighbors—there's room for a sweet Craftsman house, a two-bedroom guest house, and a sizable yard.