I'm with AFC - the only thing that will change if we re-open the rest of State Street to vehicle traffic is that we'll be able to walk and/or drive by failing retail businesses, rather than only being able to walk by them - as they fail. There's several things at play here - not just the changing nature of retail that's been happening on the national/global scale for the past few decades but also more local forces as well. State Street, as it currently exists, simply has too much square footage for the size of this town to fill it all with retail and restaurants. The center of gravity for night life has also shifted to other areas of town - most notably the Funk Zone. This is a zero sum game - there's a finite number of shopping/dining dollars, and so the shifting of the center of gravity towards the Funk Zone will not be magically made up by vehicle traffic on State Street. There's also - SO MUCH PARKING in downtown - if you just know where to look for it. If you go to any semi-functional/non-dying mall, chances are you'll do more walking at that mall than you will to visit a shop or restaurant on State Street. And yes - lots of malls are dying - but I have yet to see someone propose with a straight face that the solution to that is to allow people to drive through the pedestrian spaces of those malls. As a SB resident and voter, I will never, ever vote for any local politician who votes to reopen the rest of State Street. Never. Ever.
That is indeed a huge bump up from the number of current launches — which is already a big increase from just a few years ago. Aside from concerns about the impact on air quality and other important environmental factors, I have questions about how the noise and vibrations from these seemingly back-to-back launches are affecting buildings in the area. Is that crack on my back patio growing because that’s just what happens over time, or is it from the deep rumbling of every launch? ????????♀️
120 launches a year is a huge change from current state. We need to know that air quality in Santa Barbara won’t be affected by that many launches. Like the article states, these are not for defense, but primarily for SpaceX’s private Starlink product.
Also sad news about Trattoria Vittoria.
“In our very temperate climate”. We need an edit button! ????
Respectfully, State st and lots of retail were failing long before Covid. I used to go to Wendy foster and Nordstrom on canon perdido and it wasn’t like I was parking on state. Foot traffic there is mainly tourists and having 6 blocks closed off for strolling is a good idea and is popular all over the country. Parklets were great for getting more outside seating is out very temperate climate.
The link to your story about the rattlesnake in your kitchen almost made me pee my pants! Andy the Wildlife Trapper is legend.
Erik: Thanks for the rattlesnake story and the detailed photos: I probably won't sleep for a week. On a serious note--important information.
Thank you for posting the survey. Agreed, something like Option 1. The house is, let’s be direct, ugly. The view is incredible.
Of course, the best choice would have been to spend (a lot less than) the $1 million already spent on consultants on a city attorney finding a way to get out of the deed and sell the property to pay for things people use. On a recent Sunday at 4 pm, there were a total of 5 people there- three were teens smoking weed and tossing their joints in the dry brush. Down the hill at the Mission and Shoreline Park, each had hundreds of people there. It’s clear where we should be spending our money.
Sad the iconic Wendy Foster store is another victim of the State st demise. One of the many 'go to' shopping experiences on State has suffered yet another blow by the city council who won't listen to the public outcry to OPEN STATE ST to automobiles and get rid of the 'parklets' that served their purpose over two years ago!!
We need new leaders who will listen to the local people!!
Redoing the Biltmore for years just to put a Nobu in is so unbearably cringe
The new Enoteca bar place is quite gawdy. I walked by it the other day on the way to the post office, peeked inside, looks like it was decorated by my grandmother with all the fake flowers.
Nevermind I see the post about it in the next section. : )
Will the Biltmore still be managed by the Four Seasons?
This clip is EVERYTHING ????
Any timeline related to Ty Warner is essentially useless as he is not really a rational person and being a billionaire he doesn't have to play by the usual rules.
Yes, you are wrong, Dan O. Seibert. The Habers are long-time locals and wonderful people and Michael is a great, inspired artist who brings beauty not hate to our neighborhood. I say this as a casual acquaintance, only.
I went to the newly opened carwash on Milpas last week and they did a fabulous job on my car! It's completely remodeled inside and appears to have new ownership.
I hear you about the signs. I did put those up and I was not thrilled either. I did not give my sign guy the exact Pantone colors but this was not what I had imagined. They also were supposed to be 18 x 24 not 24 x 36. So it was a comedy of errors. Maybe I can move them to another place in the lot that is less conspicuous. I do care very much about these things as well. Wish signs were not so expensive these days but I will think about it for sure. Also wish we didn't have so many problems with people parking in the lot and walking off. People of SB, if you want to park here please adhere to the rules. The rates are very reasonable and thank you for supporting local business!
If you are talking about Sushi Bar that is a totally different omakase experience then the many options you can find on the Nobu menu.
I took the NYC reference from the SB county development sign I saw. It had his name and address as being in NYC, who knows, I could be wrong.
I grew up in the original house that burned down in 1977 - the garage is the only thing that remained, the mailbox is the original as well. This land must be cursed.
I don't think the Haber's are new to Montecito since my kids, now in their mid-to-late 20's, went to MUS with their kids. And I look forward to trying his crab cake sliders and clam chowder!
Ate at Azul last night for the first time. Amazing cocktails and food. Did you mention it before and I missed it? Really exceptional.
Erick. Thanks for the great photos of the seminary. I see what you mean about deferred maintenance, but what a gorgeous complex. Hopefully someone will renovate it and not destroy the charm.
Grocery Outlet
