That hotel has had to pivot and submit new plans for expired permits. I heard they had to add an elevator some years back due to new codes.
I suspect the owner doesn't really care and may be punishing the city by delaying and keeping it an eyesore. The city keeps a close eye on his projects due to so many issues in the past. A very contentious relationship.
I have been hiking the front country trails for 5 decades and I cannot recall that the Tangerine Falls trail has ever been maintained. It has always been a very rough "use" trail with lots of scrambling and loose rocks. Of course the falls can be seen in several places from the West Fork trail. Regarding trail ownership, this article by Ray Ford provides a nice summary: https://www.noozhawk.com/ray-ford-who-owns-the-front-country-trails/
Hi Monica and Art of el sueno,
I understand your concerns. Hopefully I can share some more context for the conversation:
From day one, a principle design constraint has been to impact the forest as little as possible, as it is the most potent healing opportunity for guests of the proposed retreat—just as you, and I, have personally experienced when camping.
Our architect, Jim Cutler, has won many environmental awards and is renown for his ability to design into the existing landscape, not on top of it. The parcel has been homesteaded for 30+ years, and we are reusing all roads and footprints to minimize impact. We have designed the retreat such that no roof exceeds 16 feet in height, and being amongst majestic valley and blue oaks that are upwards of 50 feet tall, the retreat will be invisible to any onlooker. There is actually a farm structure on the property now that is over 20' tall and it can not be seen at all! (you can experience this if you drive the road to Rancho Oso and look back on the parcel).
With private land, there is always a risk that something incongruent with the natural landscape gets built (a casino?), so we are immensely proud that we have designed a facility that reveres and works in harmony with the native landscape and uses private funds to help restore habitat that is being lost to climate change.
Thank you,
Alex
Hi Evie and Don,
I completely agree that it's becoming harder for the working class to attend these experiences. Teachers, nurses, mothers, and so many others who sacrifice their own health to help others deserve support to attend programs like ours. This is why we launched the Deserving Fund in 2022, which offers $1-3k grants for guests who need a helping hand budget for our retreat. Please explore this grant program here, if you'd like: https://mountaintrek.com/resources/the-deserving-fund/
Does anyone know about the scope of the supposed renovation of El Encanto and what is happening with that? Fuether, is this guest chef a sign that they are going to hire a top chef for the dining room? The place needs a major overhaul in staff as well if it is going to recoup its top status as a resort.
They could have finished that hotel a year ago if they didn't put ornamentation over every square inch of the building. I have never seen a building in Santa Barbara (yes, even Jeff Shelton buildings) with so much STUFF on it. The street elevation is tame enough but if you go fill up at that gas station and look at the building...yeesh!
Omg the Mission Inn has been under construction for 10 years! What is the story behind this place!? Bizarre !
Jefferson A. knows his numbers. And toss in costs for utilites as one of the big nuts.
hi, I am the artist who made this mural. It’s on the outside wall of the Santa Barbara health/ dental clinic. Thanks so much for posting this. I hadn’t seen it in a long time.
Had no idea Ed St George was part of Radius- seems they are betting on his properties in Solvang- Founders Market being the only operating parcel he has currently….he is quite unpopular as his project directly across the street is foundering under a stop work order. The property next door to stop work property, the former Security Pacific bank- also sits mid re-do empty and behind chain link fence. He purchased Pea Soup Andersen's- currently a chain link surrounded dilapidated eyesore. He has a second project coming in Btown that has a lifesize coffee pot as a focal point….
Another of the new businesses at Founders Market will be a pizza/wine/beer open air spot from the folks behind Standing Sun Winery in Buellton- who has also started bringing back music events to their tasting room.
Rooted Vine Cellars- Radius called them Rooted Vince- are a great couple who live offshore while running a wine tour business in the Valley- also world travelers.
Andrea’s Heart is a up and running business- women’s goods including home goods & jewelry , with CHOMP and Solvang Coffee (coffee with a cop/CHP this Tues!) still anchoring the plaza.
Lots of nuggets in the Radius report!
These people were not “observers” They were actively impeding, obstructing federal law enforcement effort to detain criminal illegal aliensWhere were they when millions of illegal aliens, many criminals, allowed to stream across the border unimpeded?
If these people object to ICE efforts, urge the cities and County to honor ICE detainers for criminal illegal aliens. Meanwhile the law will be enforced
Also where is the outcry against our taxes being raised, our pot hole filled streets neglected in Carpinteria while the City Council hands out $250,000+ to illegal alien support groups
Please people read the law, enforce it or change it, or act to assist honest illegal aliens to gain lawful status rather than all this meaningless virtue signaling
"The problem, according to Hartmann and Fischer, is that two state laws — passed in 2017 and 2022 — designed to inoculate sidewalk vendors — as low-income and largely Latino participants in what’s known as “the informal economy” — from criminal prosecution. These bills effectively strip the power of local authorities to shut down operations for sanitary violations that would get an ordinary restaurant closed. "
Another example of a seemingly well-intentioned state law causing real life problems. Is anyone asking our state Senator and Representative to fix this problem?
The way you wrote about The Cotogna x El Encanto collab is confusing because you make it sound like it's a CH event when it's not IMO. I had to go back and look at the last newsletter to see if I missed something.
I'm not affiliated with CH, I love their restaurants and collabs, but I was confused when reading because El Encanto is not in the CH portfolio. 🤷♂️
Unfortunately, some issues are legally complex and not amenable to perceived simple solutions. This is one of them. Police are neither qualified nor empowered to enforce food safety laws. That authority lies with the SB County Public Health Dept. As a commenter above noted, the SB County Grand Jury conducted a thorough investigation of this issue last year. Anyone who genuinely cares about the topic can read their analysis and recommendations at: https://sbcgj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/6.22.25-Food-Vendor-Report.pdf
That's great to know, Carrie. I'll have to look them up next time I'm in Carp. Stica is likely just catering to a wealthier class of frozen lasagna foodie folks. I genuinely wish them well.
It's also true that wages and the cost of running a restaurant have risen considerably since COVID. Not to mention finding good people to staff it with.
All that being said, I think they'd be smart to offer a smaller portion at a lower price point. The market will eventually inform them what people are willing to pay, of course, but if they sell it frozen, how are you supposed to thaw a smaller portion and keep the rest frozen?
These things keep me up at night. 🙃
Please block her from your site. Her influence has been enough for me to often not read ANY comments. What is her deal? Totally wacko and has no place for what you are trying to do with your site. Seriously, please get rid of her nonstop comments. Thank you.
I make a fantastic lasagna. Using the best ingredients, it costs me around $40 to make for 8 large servings.
Knowing they get wholesale ingredients, it should probably be closer to $60.
Thanks for the link to the Noozhawk story about the most affordable cup of coffee in town. But there is one they missed, perhaps because Happy Cat Eats, next to oku on Cabrillo Blvd and also owned by Tina Takaya, may not come readily to mind in the coffee shop category, but their Locals Dollar Coffee is exactly that, a 12 oz cup of great (Handlebar) coffee for $1 if you are a local. A lot of other great (and affordable) food and beverage items on their menu as well!
Can’t wait to get an R2! It will be great to have a service center here
You don't need to drive all the way to SY to get excellent lasagna. Thario's in Carp (Santa Claus Lane) has the best lasagna!! One lasagna feeds 2 easily especially if they are super hungry...and it doesn't cost $85!! I buy 2 and freeze one for later.
Thank you!!! I am so sick of her hate-fueled garbage comments!
"everything should be enforced" except immigration laws apparently.
Thank You Eric 🙏.
She tries to spread nothing but hate.
I applaud you for stopping her nasty comments on your fun, informative, lovely site.
With the R2 coming out this year they will need the infrastructure for sales and service.
Im hoping the R2 does well without taking too much market share from Tesla. I think we need a second dominant American EV manufacturer. Chinese ev manufacturers are dominating internationally.
Always great to see that people see more on photos than any inspector ever saw on-site and in person…
Where can we book those remote consultations and inspections?
Ever thought about that was reflected in the price?
