March 21, 2024
News Roundup
Architects Make Suggestions for the State Street Promenade
Other recent news: Improvements to Coast Village Road; Vuori is moving again; Josh Brolin bought in Montecito; the theme of the 100th Old Spanish Days Fiesta; Goleta Beach and Gaviota State Park have reopened; Hillary Hauser is stepping down as head of Heal the Ocean; the end of the standard 6 percent sales commission? 10
March 14, 2024
The Plan to Expand Santa Barbara Airport
Other recent news: Roy Lee has an insurmountable lead over Das Williams; Santa Barbara professional soccer team delayed; arrests in the murder of Violet Evelyn Alberts; peeks inside two historic homes; tattoo parlor chain opening on State Street; new stoplight in Carpinteria; Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park remain closed; buyer found for the News-Press's online assets. 4
March 7, 2024
The Deal to Transform Paseo Nuevo Is Taking Shape
Other recent news: The owner of nearly all local movie theaters declared bankruptcy; Roy Lee appears to have dislodged Das Williams; Garden Street hotel moves forward; the buyer who paid $32 million for the DeGeneres/de Rossi flip; updated FEMA flood maps expected soon; the Macy's store at La Cumbre is spared for now; Ellwood Marine Terminal to be restored to its natural state; Ellwood Mesa has reopened to the public; wind farm near Lompoc begins operations. 9
February 29, 2024
Santa Barbara Water Rates to Go Way Up
Other recent news: Proposed Garden Street hotel will only have 60 employees; Santa Barbara–based Jackpocket acquired for $750 million; a Wells Fargo branch has closed; the reinvented River Lodge motel outside Paso Robles has opened; the tree of the month; sewage spills affect Goleta Beach and Miramar Beach. 3
February 22, 2024
The Biltmore Has Finally Set a Reopening Date
Other recent news: Cruise ship visits could be limited to 20 per year; fallen palm trees at Refugio State Beach; "beer spa" could be opening here; the effort to restart ExxonMobil's oil operations; Goleta wants to reroute pedestrian bridge funds to roundabouts; rehabbing Carpinteria's Alcazar Theatre. 15
February 15, 2024
The Effort to Build a New Pedestrian Bridge Over Highway 101
Other recent news: The spectacular Pepper Hill house finally got published; Santa Barbara's new city administrator; some of the issues people have with county supervisor Das Williams; two school fields opened for after-hours use; understanding Santa Barbara’s Measure A; Carpinteria Avenue mixed-use development moves forward. 8
February 8, 2024
February 1, 2024
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Canceled an Exhibit Because It Wasn’t Diverse Enough
Other recent news: Voting underway for a downtown Community Benefit Improvement District; recapping the meeting about the Carpinteria Bluffs hotel project; the Coral Casino reopened; water damage has temporarily shuttered the Granada Theatre; the X Games are returning to Ventura; Modoc Road multi-use trail update; the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s new Westside clinic was allowed to be a bit taller. 29
January 25, 2024
January 18, 2024
A Bunch of Big Apartment Developments Got Pushed Through a State Loophole
Other recent news: The proposed La Cumbre Plaza project includes a food hall; Santa Barbara city council made it easier for the police to get parking lot data; former professional tennis player Maria Sharapova bought in Montecito; Corot exhibit at Westmont; Leadbetter Beach Park has reopened; new 24-hour dental urgent care. 17
Burning Questions
- How Long Will This Big Pipe Be at East Beach?
- Is Cabrillo Boulevard Going to Be Widened Under Highway 101?
- Was There a Fisherman Inn in Downtown Santa Barbara?
- What Are Those Old Buildings at the Corner of Castillo and Montecito Streets?
- When Will the Coast Village Road Medians Be Completed?
- What’s This Scaffold Structure on Las Positas Road?
- Why Does Street Striping Take So Long to Happen?
Recent Comments
Exactly this. I haven't heard any realistic alternatives yet. — BrR
The land is privately owned and zoned for development. What operates on it today exists at the discretion of the owners, and that can change… — BrR
Those tract homes are tacky and not good enough for precious Carpinteria. Carp deserves much better than those eye sores. — KK
It’s not vacant parcel: it’s a beautiful co-op organic farm, Farm Cart Organics, that feeds our community, and a farm school, Carpinteria Children’s Farm, and… — Sarah
Respectfully, there was never a version of development on this site that Carpinteria was going to welcome with open arms. That's the problem. Even if… — EM
My comment on your post here last June: https://www.sitelinesb.com/nearly-200-housing-units-proposed-for-the-carpinteria-bluffs/ “the developer is saying it’ll use the density bonus to accommodate the housing instead—and retain the… — SkyG
I’d definitely prefer a hotel with restaurant, farm, grounds, etc. than Orange County tract homes. — BW
For anyone curious, the "farm resort" initially proposed—and intensely resisted by Carpinteria residents—is described in this post: https://www.sitelinesb.com/99-room-farm-resort-proposed-for-the-carpinteria-bluffs/ — Erik Torkells
The state is going to force housing on communities that don't plan for it. Carpinteria can either shape what gets built here or wait for… — BrR
Genuinely curious what outcome you'd prefer. The land is privately owned and zoned for development. If not this, then what? Leaving it vacant forever isn't… — EM