Exactly what I meant.....thanks for the accuracy
It seems that the committee wants to turn State Street into a combination of Disneyland and Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. As you point out, if the businesses lining State Street can’t thrive, there’s no point to creating a circus in the middle. So wrong headed. Which is how it always seems to go in Santa Barbara. Tired of being disgusted by this city’s deeply dysfunctional government at all levels.
New Frontiers' prepared food section is quite appalling and disappointing in terms of sophisticated selections and how the staff does not seem to be well-trained in food safety and prep etiquette. They should take notes from Erewhon to see how it's done.
Christine, not sure why people think being vegan is "LA-esque" or snobby. Maybe if people were more properly informed about food then it would be viewed differently, embraced more, and offered more widely.
Not impressed with Pony Espresso's food options many, if not all, of which are not vegan. And yes, I've also tried... just to name a few ...
Peasants Feast (big thumbs down for service and quality).
Full of Life Flatbread (way too many chunks of meat ready to carve laying around, gross).
California Tacos (vegan burrito is soggy and soupy).
Panino (#24 greek sandwich sub cheese with avocado is ok and basic in an emergency but definitely not organic so the veggies are pretty lackluster in taste).
SYV would be a much better destination if it offered vegan options, showcasing what our local farms provide. I know many people who don't care to return precisely for the reason that vegan restaurant/bar options are scarce or not creative.
Funny, at first, I thought those rocks in the picture were tents and the guy on the right wearing a cap was a homeless guy going inside!
Besides that, looking over all the info and the comments, it really seems like humans have lost their way. It all seems so contrived and awkward in trying to figure out a tiny place like State Street. Nothing seems organic and the aim seems to be control. Street performers must perform on this elevated stage. Moments of joy and play will happen in this designated space. "Old Town" seems like a forced cliche. Why not just call it what it is, "Lower State"? So that means that the 400 block with the sex shop, tattoo shop, 99 cent store, cigar shop and various restaurants etc. is the entrance to Old Town? Then, Old Town stops where all the old buildings begin and that's called the Civic District? I don't get it. Perhaps, the agency hired to do the design for State Street are suggesting their preconceived ideas? That makes sense because they will have to show they earned their money.
Something in my soul tells me these plans are overly idealistic and shallow. What would the ancient Greeks and Romans suggest?
Lucky for me, I have lived and traveled to so many places such as Jerusalem, Paris, Rome, Venice, Hong Kong and Japan etc. In Barcelona, I got to experience Las Ramblas which is the most amazing and famous pedestrian street in the world. I doubt if the street performers there are forced to go to designated blocks to perform. It seems like they just pick a place and draw a crowd. Are those performers rich or poor? Who cares? Artists on the street add to the spontaneous vibrancy but I do believe they have a license and set up in an specific area. Europe is full of artists and vibrant energy but in Santa Barbara freely expressed art seems to be squelched by bureaucratic authority that kills the spirit of it.
On top of everything, we have the problems facing society at every turn including breakdown and collapse. Haven't you noticed? I wonder how the play zones will help? Will there be any intellectually stimulating areas? Oh well.
Over 25 years ago, I suggested in a public meeting with the Mayor that Santa Barbara install a Monorail system. It was totally feasible with the technology literally off the shelf. If only someone had listened. That would have put Santa Barbara even further on the world map. A monorail would have been playful and fun. If only...is it too late?
OK! Back to State Street dreaming. Please stand in this spot and feel a moment of joy. Feeling is the secret.
Maybe try New Frontiers- they have the sushi bar, hot bar and cold bar, always many options as far as I can see. Maybe try pony Espresso- they do breakfast & lunch. Vegans represent 4% of the population at this point- demanding a western centered populace provide this is a little LA esque.
The plaza needs no other option for dining- El Sitio is KING
What do they mean by amenities in the Old Town section? A giant area of public restrooms?
Who's going to maintain that? Will it be for visitors, drunken college students after a night
of over-imbibing, the unhoused?
So I guess the pizza place is leaving the corner spot in the Grocery Outlet building? Do you know if the brewery is taking the entire space from the corner down to the end (old Chinese restaurant space) ? I wonder if the liquor store is leaving too. Not exactly thrilled to have another bar going in this neighborhood
I agree. I think for a lot of younger tourists the funk zone has taken over from lower state. I don’t go to either especially in the summer, but last night third window Brewery was packed with young, old and families. It’s the kind of place that people like to go to now-casual, great food and interesting beer and wine selections.
Will Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley offer VEGAN options at ANY of their events?
Checking to see if Mattei's Outstanding in the Field Event will provide VEGAN options, but I doubt it since they basically offer zero acceptable vegan dishes at their restaurant and tavern (salad, avocado toast, and buffalo cauliflower doesn't cut it).
Anybody else disappointed at the lack of vegan options in SYV?? For now, I'm sticking with the farm stands and farmer's market, but it would be nice to go out and enjoy an organic plant-based dish. Shout out to Nella's who has been the only restaurant IMO that politely and professionally curates high quality vegan modifications here in the Valley.
State retail has been in decline for years before Covid. Not sure why people want to drive on State st again. Everyone still parks in the same places they did before the closure and if anything it increases foot traffic. Retail closing is another issue and grappling with e-commerce is what retailers have to worry about these days. Covid taught as all how to buy online.
Lots of naysayers here for something that is in the embryonic stages. And, why does the City get the brunt of ire when the City has little or no control over market forces, property ownership in and around State St, or changes in how people shop or commute? While having more housing along or beside the State St corridor is desirable (let’s accept the fact that Goleta has been providing Santa Barbara’s housing needs for decades) the fact is that due to current height restrictions it’s hard to get these projects to pencil-out even when the City does away with parking requirements. Whether you like it or not, Santa Barbara’s main economic engine is and always has been tourism. Thousands of visitors make their way up State Street from the beach every year, encountering the 400 block as the gateway to Old Town (Downtown). Not an inviting block! I am going to stay open-minded at this point; see how our planning staff and the City’s consultant respond to public comment and give us something most of us (not everyone will be happy with the final plan) can get behind.
I cannot help but wonder a few things:
So are we planting a full grown canopy of trees or do we have to wait for them to grow and mature?
Will someone hose this place down frequently and remove trash?
Where's the proof there is demand for businesses to fill in all these blocks? Will State Street rent go down with all of these improvements?
What makes this safe, desirable to hang out, have your kids roll around on bouncy mountains, when someone may have lost all their tequila after rolling out of Sandbar.
Will there be police presence? Maybe not seen or authoritarian-like, but readily available and ensuring safety?
Will free public parking be extended to a long amount of time, so we can enjoy these blocks?
Will there be transportation (like electric trolleys) to and fro from the neighborhoods we live in? Or do we all have to jump on our electric bikes and scooters to get there?
Is there a city fund to actually encourage entrepreneurship and provide resources for businesses to thrive with sound business plans and training?
Is there a fund for the artists who are contributing to this? Can those artists afford rent, food, basics? Will those artists ever visit the place they create art for?
Who is this for?
We always sit on the downstairs patio when we go to SYR. It’s my favorite spot and as beautiful as any patio I’ve ever sat on for dining.
Agree100%
I see improvement from the original, namely the meander in the Arts and Core district, which I support. I didn’t see the library plaza expansion as part of this, though it makes sense. I don’t see why lower state has to be so uniform, I get that they want to be fair but it’s chaotic now and this does nothing to make it less so in that zone. I still want to see more planting areas and fountains, not interactive water play which is very expensive and makes that area unusable due to necessary grading, too specific and Lord no! We don’t want an LA plaza look, this needs an Andalusian feel.
Farrow & Ball has a color called Dead Salmon that looks similar to that bathroom.
I agree that we should take a look elsewhere to see what is working. I like Santana Row in San Jose. One night, while dining outside and looking at beautiful flowers, we watched a dog training class. Twelve dogs were learning to have nice manners while walking the Row. In Seattle an empty gallery invited 18 artists to create an indoor miniature golf course. There were lights and pulleys and imagination. Kids could participate until 9 P.M. and then wine and beer were sold. The cost was $5. On South Beach I was able to watch ballerinas practice while having a glass of wine. It is nice to both participate and watch others participate if you don't choose to.
Terrible idea.
Take a look at 8th St in Holland, MI for an example and……
…..Open the street to one way traffic downhill, diagonal parking one or both sides with 15 minute parking for business customers loading and unloading, reduce the bulky vegetation, leave the trees, reduce the restaurant outside eating areas and install uniform “parklet” railings.
Enforce no cycling, skateboards etc. on sidewalks and paint two-way cycle path on one side of State. Prohibit no panhandling rules.
Stores will revive, restaurants will bleat but their customers will be there and probably increase. With a clean, accessible State Street downtown will improve dramatically and we can stop wasting money on consulting companies.
About that private beach access way... if you have to 'ask' it isn't legal. Only vested trails prior to the Coastal Act are permitted. If you have to 'uncover' it that means you've lost the right. Maintain and repair is the name of the game.
I beg to differ. The wine of Santa Barbara Winery by Lafond is not good at all. A sub-par wine at best.
State was a much stronger retail experience before the street closure. SB has incredible parks and a great amount of them so why would families go downtown to endless patios and paseos for recreation? I raised my family here and that is just not realistic. SB is a relatively small town and this thinking of endless patios and paseos is not a good use of space. The city will not be able to afford this work for one and retailers continue to leave State given the environment attracting more homeless. Open the street to vehicles and improve what were already large side walks and patios. This reimagine shutdown thing has been so damaging to commerce downtown as a whole as seen by the significant vacancy which is higher than other coastal communities in CA
Looking forward to 'moments of joy' will it be free?
Hotel Californian
1801 State Street, corner of Islay and State.
