October 25, 2023
News Roundup
The State Street Advisory Committee Met Again
Other recent news: Blissful Boutiques makers' market lost its lease at Paseo Nuevo; the city council approved new regulations for restaurant parklets; the Land Trust bought 48 acres on the Gaviota Coast; California Highway Patrol decided to stay and renovate its Calle Real office; progress for improvements at the Goleta Butterfly Grove; looking back at when a rich homeowner let hobos live on her property. 3
October 18, 2023
Santa Barbara Proposes Painful Regulations for Restaurant Parklets
Other recent news: Carpinteria votes to allow parklets; Santa Barbara is said to be mulling an increase in the hotel tax; Santa Barbara County is considering three new taxes; commuter train service from Ventura County is in the works; gate installed at the Hot Springs trailhead; two regional banks have merged. 2
October 10, 2023
The Trees of Milpas Street Are in Danger of Being Removed
Other recent news: California has passed a law banning "junk fees"; the tension between hotel and housing development; San Ysidro Creek debris net dam cleared; Goleta street improvements (and three new roundabouts); looking back at Santa Barbara's early surf scene. 28
October 5, 2023
Increased Regulation Likely for Pandemic Restaurant Expansion
Other recent news: The fall cruise season has begun; list of Santa Barbara infrastructure projects; an opponent for Das Williams; big downtown probation office moves forward; the ongoing restoration of Hammond's Meadow; Santa Barbara Unified School District enrollment continues to drop; Santa Barbara Humane expansion and the recreation of an airport hangar. 4
October 2, 2023
September 23, 2023
The City Is Working on a Deal to Demolish Paseo Nuevo for Housing
Other recent news: Carpinteria's Coastal View News says it's at risk of going out of business; Santa Barbara Museum of Art relinquishes stolen artwork; investigating tar balls appearing on local beaches; renoviction fears hang over big Bath Street apartment complex; efforts to stop people from falling off Isla Vista bluffs. 1
September 13, 2023
September 1, 2023
State Street Promenade to Get a Designated Bike Lane
Other recent news: Downtown library plaza delayed; Goleta Beach Park update; UC Santa Barbara will fail to meet housing obligations until at least 2029; 24-unit homeless housing coming to Patterson Avenue and Highway 101; the Santa Barbara Studio Artists Open Studio Tour is this weekend. 2
August 25, 2023
Santa’s Convenience Store Is Coming to Town
Other recent news: Proposed State Street hotel gets paused by the Planning Commission; Santa Barbara and Goleta to work together on airport noise; the electric bike craze in Santa Barbara; city council to discuss the promenade every month; upper Jesusita Trail reopening delayed by easement owners; Carpinteria skatepark opens Saturday. 3
August 18, 2023
Santa Barbara Once Again Needs a New City Administrator
Other recent news: Rain expected on Sunday and Monday; Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom in another real estate dispute; inside the home of Montecito art collectors; community "refillery" to open in Goleta; the Goodwill store in Carpinteria has reopened; Cottage Hospital emergency room nearly doubled in size; Westside residents are pushing to get weekend access to school grounds. 3
Burning Questions
- Why Are the Railroad Tracks Being Expanded Along Padaro Lane?
- Will You Explain the Plan to Adapt the Waterfront for Climate Change?
- Why Did the Rosewood Miramar Beach Install Gates?
- 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?
Recent Comments
It is kind of complex to tease out who bears the risks and benefits in these projects that have public and private parties involved. I… — SBradley
Very interesting. If Yardi is paying anywhere near $120M + $35M + $5.7M for almost 250k empty square feet, this is going to take a… — NuemanJ
I think some folks who would consider this is a windfall for Yardi may be overlooking two things: 1)The cost to Yardi to buyout AB's… — StanThompson
Just realizing I did not address your first point. The buildings on the property have been up for sale, and their value is also depressed… — SBradley
I think that the city's representation of this land as having ‘zero value’ is confusing because it sums together the value of 2 distinct things… — SBradley
No idea whether this is a good deal for Yardi or not. Paseo Nuevo has been available for sale since 2020 with no buyers -… — NuemanJ
I wish this same logic worked for Thrifty ice cream! According to the BLS inflation calculator, something that cost 5 cents in 1970 should cost… — Doug B
I'm unclear how bike lanes are related to maga. For that matter please explain how freeways and rail lines are remotely maga in a state… — Bettye Jones
Worth knowing about the Paseo Nuevo deal: the city is skipping the required competitive bidding process for this public land transfer by using the state-approved… — SBradley
This write up is such a biased take that sides with a handful of people. I imagine the people groaning about this project have a… — Yesenia G.