BURNING QUESTION: WHY IS FRANCESCHI HOUSE IN A HOLDING PATTERN?
“My fiancée and I think that it would be wonderful to see Franceschi House restored,” emailed N., “but it seems that efforts over the last 20 years have been unsuccessful. We’d love to understand in more detail what has caused the house to get stuck.” Here’s where the project stands now.
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FOOD STUFF
••• Innovative food concept to open on State Street (above).
••• Jeanine’s outpost in La Arcada has closed.
••• La Paloma is now serving lunch.
••• Chicken-wing chain opening at La Cumbre.
••• Panera Bread closed.
••• Bell’s confirmed its expansion into the vacant lot next door.
••• Mosby Vineyard and Winery is for sale.
→ Read the post.
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ODDS & ENDS
••• Changes coming to the area around Stearns Wharf.
••• Abercrombie & Fitch on State Street is closing, to be replaced by Hollister.
••• Aquarium shop opening in Montecito.
••• One of Santa Barbara’s two Game Stop stores is closing.
••• New Montecito bridge almost completed.
→ Read the post.
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HOT PROPERTY
The residential market remains on fire, with another $75 million in real estate changing hands last week (and that’s just the properties over $2 million). Notable sales included Hope Ranch oceanfront for $25 million, a midcentury fixer that sold for $1 million over the listing price, a Birnam Wood chateau, the Park Lane conundrum, and many more. See what sold and for how much.
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NEWS ROUNDUP
••• Santa Barbara’s electric bikes should be rentable within weeks.
••• Who’ll get vaccinated after healthcare workers.
••• The buyer of Ellen DeGeneres’s East Valley Road house.
••• A new group hopes to revitalize downtown.
••• The Pea Soup Andersen’s building in Buellton is for sale.
••• Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County chair will step down.
••• School district votes to pause failing grades.
••• The tree of the month.
→ Read the post.
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Recent Comments
I've been working as a gardener in Montecito and SB since Ronald Reagan was president. And as a working gardener I voted for the gas… — Dan O. Seibert
The ad in the Independent is correct. I was also on the non-human designed craft with Barney Hill of New Hampshire and can confirm that… — Rob
Beautiful watercolor! — ElizabethW
Wow... "there's always Google..." — Thomas John
Totally agree, and they need a fundraiser to finance this blight on nature — Art of el sueno
604 Santa Barbara Street, across from the new SBPD headquarters under construction. Happy to help but of course there's always Google.... — Erik Torkells
Could we get Mother Dough's address? It's not evident on their website — Meridith Moore
You happen to be in the minority of cases, so nice for you. Your class of housing is also not what’s housing most of the… — A
My reading is that it applies to most apartment buildings, which amount to most rentals, in SB. It’s pretty radical. The justification is mostly knee-jerk… — A
Glad to see the City take the minimalist and long-term least-expensive route with Francheschi. A little-used location with a house that was not particularly historical.… — Andy