I saw a high rise plan in oakland, 633 units...called Atlas and in the underground parking they are creating a car fleet of what one would call time share cars. They will be electric commuter vehicles and tenants will buy into them. The cars will be on the move all day long, rather than just sit at your work place for 8 hours. You might take out an electric commuter one day and a utilitarian truck another, or a van to travel to the desert. You will be able to car share to town from your parking garage, It just makes sense to start thinking this way instead of bemoaning traffic. Soon cars will be able to come and pick you up on the way to get someone else and with no driver. These buildings are the structures that will rent to inhabitants who will live with the innovation of tomorrow. Bikes also are so improved that we can commute with them. Oh my goodness if you have ever been to asia and seen all the little motor bikes four in a row in each direction. This is my biggest wish though. since we may have to accept on some level this increase in population density that we would at the same time go even higher than 70 feet for each building...making them narrower with greater space between... for birds to fly and views to be had of our mountains Tall glass buildings at la cumbre plaza. People looking out of these apartments rendered here will be looking at walls all day while those in high rises can look upon the ocean and hills and those on state street can enjoy the lights at night. Atlas sits on just 1 3/8 of an acre. 633 vs 684 on 8.4 acres block style that blocks views. My vision is 3 tall trees...the tallest in the world. I believe Matt Taylors son actually discovered the very tallest one. Let 3 tall buildings house 1899 residents on just 4 acres. When you look out the window in a tall building you yourself feel like a bird. Wouldn't if be fun to look out from a 320 foot building and see what a bird sees from the top of hyperion.
Santa Barbara has a critical need for Visiting Artist Housing, all kinds of artists, actors, designers, directors, stage crafts, musicians. Why not the place?
If it purposes is in support of the Arts, Housing for Artists would meet an urgent need. Theaters and Arts Organizations and comply with the mission
We need at least one non-boutique store in town. Macy's isn't great, but it has been the only place in town to get certain items.
The apartments will be rentals, although the Taylors said there's a possibility that the senior housing may not. As for unit size, I added a slide from the presentation with some answers at the end of the post.
I think it's simple math. They invest $250 million of borrowed money to make $250 million or more in net return. Macy's rent will never turn that kind profit. The real questions here are how big is each unit? How much will they cost including HOA fees, or are they rentals? Who can buy them? And the biggie, where does your dog take a dump. Besides the obvious water, traffic, and infrastructure questions All real questions are being bushed along with no hard answers.
The contact at Public Works had this to say: "The project will be rebid, construction is anticipated in late spring/summer."
Go Team Taylor! Such a much needed and smart development plan. Fingers crossed for a swift approval process.
Huguette Clark’s will states that the Bellosguardo Foundation’s primary purpose is “fostering and promoting the arts, for the benefit of the public.” Now, after eight years of doing nothing, they’re offering those “lucky enough to snag a spot” a limited tour of the grounds for $100 a pop?
Her will also directs the foundation to make grants that support arts organizations. I’ve checked the last seven years of public filings, and the total amount of grants made is ZERO.
The late Ms. Clark would surely be unhappy with the leadership of her foundation. Until the current president and his cronies on the board are replaced, I won’t be supporting it.
I guess my source is worth keeping under my hat….Enjoy !
“…. consisting of a 1,582-net-square-foot second story addition and a 3,579-net-square-foot roof dec…”.
Are they going to add a well stocked bar, a la Mount Caramel? Because everyone really needs a luxurious roof deck to fully appreciate JC. All that and no taxes paid on their income; must be nice. We’re in the wrong business!
This surprises me. No shade meant to Macy’s, but I assumed they were on their way out of business (brick & mortar business, at least) like so many others have been or are going. If that were the case, I agree with many here, even though it makes me sad, that converting it to housing is an excellent idea.
Yeah, butter sounds like a lot. I’d still eat it, though, lol. Thanks!
Any word on start date if State Street underpass construction? First it was late summer then fall. I wrote Jeff on instagram and he had no clue and said it’s a public works project so only they know. Any chance we can get a update on the start time frame ?
Love the Jeff Shelton piece about the house on the Riviera. We have a small Shelton designed house that we were lucky enough to purchase 12 years ago and I just redid the kitchen floor using Jeff designed tile. Such a Santa Barbara treasure.
I find it interesting that they are proposing kicking out a functional Buisness as opposed to redeveloping the other areas that are dead. The Macys building is the one large retail Buisness that is fully occupied right now. Why tear down the one the actually is being used as opposed to redeveloping the vacant retail spaces? I went to the mall this evening and had to park near the old Sears building because the lot was full and there were lines of people trying to check out in Macys. It felt like it was 2007 again. Is Macy’s on a short term lease that can be terminated? The same can be said of the Restoration Hardware building downtown (which is also proposed for for housing), The managers say they are doing excellent Buisness, and they’ve mentioned that if they are kicked out they will find a new location in town, but it still seems inefficient.
Great start to an exciting an underutilized asset. Would be nice to have a park/green zone in the mix between what will inevitably be two massive developments at each end. Zap the retail to the edges perhaps and call it a Hope Central Park ?
I ordered a dozen and I am looking forward to picking them up! Plus I loved the great customer service - they called me and asked if I wanted some or all of them cooked, or not, etc. I'm sure they are going to be delicious.
Had the terms of the Clark gift to the city permitted the sale of Bellosguardo to the highest bidder the city could have avoided the work & expense of making the property compliant with a multitude of regulations and instead have established an arts endowment in perpetuity.
The rumors I’ve heard - and not sure if they’re factual - was that it was changed to be “Dutch” during WWII due to understandable at the time anti-German sentiment. Yes, the restaurant has been around that long! I would be curious if anyone can verify this.
Thanks for the great photos! I love going on house and garden tours, but I didn't want to support an organization that has made so little progress (and is so opaque) to meet the intentions of Huguette's will. I felt like I would be supporting the salary of that guy currently in charge instead of the skilled laborers need to restore the place.
I'm curious why it's called Dutch Gardens when all the pictured food seems to be German??
Love it! Woe to the NIMBYs and other assorted #haters, the future is beyond you
I think this is awesome. This is exactly the type of location where we should develop high density housing. Huge lots with empty parking lots and dead retail. Some of the architecture is drab but it’s a necessary evil to keep things affordable and it’s not exactly in a historic area or one with much redeeming architectural value anyway. It’s fine. State St. up there is a mess for pedestrians and bikers. Hopefully this will help fix that. I agree traffic is already bad there but what are you gonna do? Redeveloping elements of our failing urban core are exactly what we should focus on rather than razing historic areas and buildings for new hotels, or turning every SFH into a fourplex. This is progress I like.
It's that there would be 600+ cars from residents (plus guests visiting) looking to leave the community at some point. That's my only concern.
The exact same can be said of your house and the land it sits on.
I can only imagine what the previous owners, and indigenous groups before that, would think. Time marches on, I suppose.
