August 7, 2025
News Roundup
Paseo Nuevo Redevelopment May Include a Grocery Store and Gym
Other recent news: Santa Barbara's battle against unpermitted short-term rentals; Glass House Brands refutes claims made by the Department of Homeland Security; update on the Gifford Fire; Carpinteria launched a website detailing proposed housing projects; UC Santa Barbara's new chancellor. 12
July 31, 2025
Remembering Renowned Interior Designer John Saladino
Other recent news: The Museum of Natural History's new space exhibit; forcing adaptive reuse of commercial buildings to include affordable housing; Ennisbrook celebrity buyer identified; objections to the size of Anthem Chapel's proposed Goleta church; the state of call boxes; the tree of the month. 2
July 24, 2025
The Imminent Reinvention of Cliff Drive
Other recent news: Proposed Westside path involves removing 33 trees; city to add more traffic enforcement vehicles with license plate readers; Museum of Contemporary Art canceled this year's Día de los Muertos event; the possible end of capital gains taxes on home sales. 7
July 17, 2025
The Federal Raid on a Carpinteria Business
Other recent news: Likely start date for the final phase of Highway 101 widening; more women's apparel on Coast Village Road; update on the removal of ficus trees on Milpas Street; this year's Fiesta parade route; new jewelry repair shop; possible shift in the deadlock over Sable Offshore's attempt to restart operations; Ventura will reopen Main Street to cars in the fall; outsourcing at Edhat. 27
July 10, 2025
July 3, 2025
Conceptual Representations of Two Dreadful Builder’s Remedy Projects
Other recent news: The owners of the monstrosity behind the Mission haven't paid property taxes in two years; Goleta settles with developers of 56-home project next to Glen Annie Golf Course; city adopts sidewalk signage regulations; Highway 101 widening funded; Goleta's Independence Day drone show; new car wash; Lake Los Carneros footbridge still lacks funding for repair; another Trump administration threat to Los Padres National Forest; the tree of the month. 16
June 26, 2025
Paseo Nuevo Housing Ambitions Cut in Half
Other recent news: Mayor Randy Rowse is running for re-election; remembering architect Henry Lenny; architects and planners protest two misguided Santa Barbara developments; the Trump administration wants to allow new oil and gas extraction in the California Coastal National Monument and Carrizo Plain National Monument; a visit to the post-facelift Ritz-Carlton Bacara. 15
June 19, 2025
June 12, 2025
County to Consider Building More Workforce Housing
Other recent news: Reported ICE raid in Santa Maria; Goleta Rite-Aid to close; Santa Barbara now charging a fee for credit and debit payments; Monique Limón to lead the state senate in 2026; year-round Christmas shop to close; three teachers launched a bookmobile; new online map of public art. 5
June 5, 2025
Music Academy of the West Has Plans for a Downtown Hub
Other recent news: Traffic collisions were up in 2024; remembering journalist Barney Brantingham; rival rodeos this summer; the Carpinteria Community Pool is headed for a big renovation; UCSB's pokey search for a new chancellor; the tree of the month. 7
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
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.
And if the anti's are worried about pollution, the answer is obvious. Electrify the entire LOSSAN Corridor. Cleaner, quieter, and allows for faster trains. And… — Judy's Older Brother