Thanks for saying something about the housing issue. Not that I think Santa Barbara needs more hotels over housing (with 21 projects already in queue), but the permitting process and power of the architectural review board in that process makes new construction both expensive and arduous. If the goal is more housing and affordable at that... they need to make some serious changes.
Grocery Outlet on De La Vina has the best deals- lots of olive oil options!
The Everytable situation is bizarre, it seems like a great fit for downtown SB - I know I'd be picking something up from there several times a week.
I agree. As long as the folks behave nicely, what is the harm. They come and spend money in our community and obviously like it, or else they wouldn't be here.
Sorry... what's the difference/harm?
I've been on the fence about Pacaso, but I think I'm beginning to lean in favor of it. I'd rather have eight people buy into a single $12M vacation home, then have each of them purchase a $1.5M vacation home. Taking one $12M home away from locals hurts the housing situation a lot less than taking eight $1.5M homes away from locals. Or am I missing something?
Right, we can all walk by and see these but the difference is I don't post the photos. Seeing is one thing, posting online is another. Plus, someone on Edhat did this years ago, walked every street in town and took a few photos.
I find these neighborhood walk-throughs absolutely charming and enjoyable. There is nothing being captured in photographs that anyone cannot see for themselves. Until the writer starts lounging in stranger's pools or borrowing some sugar for tea out of your cupboard, I completely fail to see how this is any sort of invasion of anyone's privacy. If privacy is what you seek, I'd advise you start watering your own hedge and pricing gates, but one of the things that makes Santa Barbara and its surrounding neighborhoods so charming is there is still a glimmer of a community we all care about and can nurture. That's all I get from these wonderful posts, so James... do what you need to do, but I like knowing my neighbors and the people within — and yes, even you, James. I promise most of us are very friendly.
Wait until they learn about Google Street View.
Wow, James, way to be a hater!
Your comment made me think of John Feinstein's book, "A good walk spoiled".
I'd bet you could get the price of your free subscription to the blog refunded if you ask nicely!
BW - yes, we're becoming Aspen by the sea.
While I agree with James’ notion of privacy, I completely admire the author’swillingness to just go out, enjoy yourself and share it with us. The wholeheartedness of it all is refreshing even if I don’t agree or care in some instances… I would say this author, with all her personal judgements, does very much have a life!
Re: 236 Las Entradas, there actually IS quite a bit of usable yard space on the west side of the house, with room for a pool and guest house.
1470 East Valley Rd Suite K. Aquatic Jewels.
Afraid not, but thanks for guessing!
Cabrillo Pavillion, 1118 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Yes to the hotel moratorium. We’re rapidly becoming less of a “real place.”
They should put a hold on new hotels. Where do they think the water they need will come from?
Maybe the homeowner didn’t want you to park there bc you take pictures of people’s homes, their addresses, cars, yards, etc. and judge them while posting it online. Families live in these homes and they deserve privacy. Get a life.
Don't fret too much over being "carded" at Bristol Farms. My wife and I found out twenty years ago that young people can't really tell if you are 45 or 65. YMMV of course.
Agree about the biscuits at Hook & Press: they win my best biscuit in town since Dune quit making theirs!
Wish the seafood restaurants in town sold more local seafood
EXACTLY, Connie! The ordinance does not ban a family from sharing a home for vacation use (though that may be just as bad for a neighborhood) and it doesn’t ban children who inherit a property from using it as a second home occasionally. It bans Corporate schemes that predatorily snap homes off the market in desirable areas so that tourists can “own it” and party. (No local buyer can compete with a billion dollar company paying all cash with a 15 day close. We had a neighbor who couldn’t when Pacaso snapped up a 1950’s home in our working class neighborhood, paying 900k more than it sold for 3 years prior.) Here’s another tidbit. Not only do these people skirt TOT that hotels have to pay tosupport the locals, the actual property isnt reassessed for tax increases , at least in California, unless more than 50% of the ownership changes. So as these time-sharers buy and sell their 1/8 shares over 20 years, the neighbor’s property taxes that support schools, fire, police etc, continue to climb as homes are sold. These timeshares then become a DRAIN on the local economy in even more ways. Pacaso doesn’t sell more than 4/8 shares to any one buyer as I understand it…so likely never will more than 50% sell at one time…since the “owners” don’t know each other. It’s BAD FOR COMMUNITIES.
Pacaso timeshares are built for partying. Just look at how they write them up on their website. We have 4 in our small town. Garages are turned into extra bedrooms, pools and hot tubs are added and every square inch is designed to fit as many bodies as possible. And I am talking mid-level homes within feet of the neighbors. When sharebuyers only have 2-14 days to justify the huge bucks they are shelling out, they want to make the most of it. So expect more noise and disruption. And move fast to stop this wily, predatory company.
Please read the revised timeshare/fractional ownership ordinance that St. Helena's City Government unanimously passed in April to prevent Pacaso from buying and operating more vacation properties in residential areas. In short, it is the USE of the property, not who owns it, that determines a violation of city ordinances. Pacaso wishes you to believe it is not a timeshare, yet the "owners" must share time with the others at explicitly set stays and times. Their scheme is nothing more than unregulated, transient occupancy vacation properties, right in the middle of neighborhoods of families with young children, local workers and retirees. Cities create zoning ordinances to protect the safety, peace and security of its citizens, and Pacaso's business model should never be allowed to circumvent these local laws.
https://sthelena.civicweb.net/document/61679/Second%20Reading%20Ordinance%20Adding%20Chapter%2017.138%20.pdf?handle=499CA77709B24CD18370D22464E94CC3
