Burning Questions

December 29, 2023

Is There a Master Plan for the New Walking Paths in Montecito?

"I see the new walking paths are making headway down Sycamore Canyon Road. Do you know if there's an overall master plan for these walkways?" —F. 5

December 21, 2023

Why Are the Thousand Steps Still Wet?

"I thought the point of the six-month closure was to fix that problem." —S. 10

December 11, 2023

What’s Happening With Sola Street?

"Have you tried driving on Sola Street lately? It's no longer a two-way street from end to end, thanks to barriers that divert traffic at Santa Barbara Street and De La Vina Street. What's the goal here?" 15

November 26, 2023

Why Are Trees Being Cut Down Above the San Ysidro Ranch?

"If you go up the San Ysidro Trail, on the west side of the creek, the entire landscape has changed dramatically. They have taken down a ton of eucalyptus trees, and added new fencing. A sign mentions trail restoration, but this seems to be a lot more than that." 4

November 6, 2023

Why Is This Lot on Milpas Street Still Vacant?

"We'd love to find out the status of the vacant lot at Milpas and De La Guerra. It was a gas station decades ago, and I thought it was being decontaminated—but the process seems stalled. It's such a key corner for the Eastside." 2

October 12, 2023

Where Else Do the Cruise Ships That Visit Here Go?

"The cruise ships that stop in Santa Barbara—what kind of routes are they on? Are there many other ports on the West Coast?" 3

June 11, 2023

What’s Happening With the Pepper Tree Inn?

"Do you know what’s going on with the eastern half of the Pepper Tree Inn on upper State Street? I see people going into the hotel driveway, while the right side looks like they maybe started a renovation, but have since stopped." —A. 1

May 24, 2023

What Is This Large Memorial in Ennisbrook?

"Every time I walk my dogs on the trail that runs through Ennisbrook, I wonder what the story is with this 15-foot-tall memorial. Do you know?" —D. 1

December 23, 2022

What’s the Large Building Under Construction Next to Highway 101?

"I've been wondering what the story is with the metal building going up next to Highway 101 at the southbound Patterson exit. Caltrans? Union Pacific?" —J. 7

December 11, 2022

Who Bought the Former St. Mary’s Seminary—and Why?

"A couple of weeks ago, the St. Mary's seminary up on Las Canoas Road was auctioned off," wrote N. "Can you find out who bought it and what his or her plans are?" 1