Sorry, there's no prize.
Did I win ? anything? I didn’t get an email. Thanks
Glad to hear that Local will have a raw bar. I’ve been hoping for somebody to offer nice seafood in a contemporary atmosphere outside of the waterfront area.
When the army corp of engineers rerouted Mission Creek in a concrete swale and Cal Trans built the 101 freeway they essentially cut off all the west side (backside of the mesa and Ellings park) water runoff from Mission Creek that meandered to the west side at the now Bohnett park. This water is what occasionally floods the west side. There is now a newer storm drain system to handle some of this flooding issue, but much of the water still works it’s way underground trying to reach Mission creek and the ocean. 101 and the concrete culvert obstructs it’s way as does Carrillo street, thus the need for this pump station . Following the path of least resistance this groundwater in route to the ocean pops up at the ever saturated Castillo underpass. CalTrans has wrongly called this “sea water” but it is actually the west side watershed which they ignored during the freeway designing coming back to haunt them.
FOUR STORIES?? Low income at the waterfront? This is just to get approval for the density. Pearl Chase is rolling in her grave. This is so far out of conformance with this areas usage intent. I have been involved with living and working in the Funk Zone since the 1970s. I am a home owner/artist in this neighborhood since 1997. I have been to the council meetings back in then when zoning and building code changes were discussed and approved with conditions. The original intent of even allowing a third story in this zoning was to break up a flat roof line that would occur with a 2 story limit. They said that “minimal third story architectural design elements would be allowed only for the purpose of adding aesthetic interest and breaking up of the flat 2 story look”. This is clearly a ‘give an inch they’ll take a mile’ situation. This project is beyond over reach on that original intent. The developer is grabbing for a 4 story monstrosity of concrete cubicles to cram an insane amount of people and business square footage into. My concerns, to name a few, are skyline obstruction, public right- of-way encroachment, inappropriate area for high density, insufficient parking ( about 90 spaces short) , poor egress access, where’s the open space? Landscaping is virtually non existent traffic congestion backing up at Garden with only one way in from 101 . The residential parking layout is unrealistic. I can’t imagine where a double parking situation would ever work in reality. The artist studios?? Seriously? This is just a maximize return on investment project. More gentrification pretending to be conceptually compatible, the rental rates here are now well $5.00 sq ft + triple net, if built, no way artists can afford to be in this space . Don’t be fooled by the art studio labels that’s just a tactic. It’ll be filled with more of the same. Please scale this back!
Very tacky sign next to the Christmas tree on Coast Village Road advertising the Rosewood with Caruso on it. Guess he needs more money.
Fess Parker's Resort (Hilton now?) East Parking lot gate at Milpas st.
I agree — it seems strange that Macy's (the last anchor to a struggling retail space) would move toward housing — when Sears and so many other vacancies exist in that space. La Cumbre has tried to encourage local business in that space, but it needs to be rethought and updated with local Santa Barbara charm and cater to its residents of all incomes, in other words: Upper State would be great for non-tourists or the wealthy (like Caruso's projects!) — but the rest of us in our community!
I’m embarrassed to admit I thought Macy’s closed a few years ago as well. My mistake. Completely agree with your point re: zoning. That is key for this revitalization to succeed.
I agree with the need to build more housing as a solution to our housing crunch, but instead of kicking out an open business why don't they reinvent the multitude of vacant retail spaces we have around town such as the large Sears building. The same goes for the owner trying to kick out Restoration Hardware (we should be protecting the remaining open businesses on State street, not force them out). The Sears owners proposed getting their space rezone as housing 2 years ago, but the city did not approve the plan. The city and developers should concentrate on the unoccupied spaces before they force out a functioning business.
Super exciting to see people reenvisioning spaces like the Macy's/Sears at La Cumbre plaza. Building more housing, not market manipulation, is the best approach to our housing crunch. Looking forward to seeing what they're going to do with it, especially if it does turn out to be residential.
Thanks for pointing this out—I've updated the post. (Someone entered $3.5 million as the closing price in MLS, but the title report says it was indeed $780,000.)
zillow says 4671 boulder ridge closed for 780k not 3.5.... hard to believe an empty lot with a horrible house approved would sell for 3.5 in goleta.
I so love the Shelton designs!
Thanks for confirming my thoughts
I don't "get" Erewhon. I'm a huge fan of grocery stores; wherever I am in the world I have to check them out. A few years ago when I was in LA I made a point of stopping by Erewhon and even brought a cooler with me. I was expecting stuff you couldn't find anywhere else. It was pretty blah and didn't offer anything I can't get at Lazy Acres or Whole Foods or FM. I saw SB Pistachios being sold for twice the price we can get them for here and local SB honey at a similar markup. I bought some fresh house-made shakshuka sauce, which I realized was expired only after I got it home to SB. The only thing I found that I couldn't get locally was a specific, novel (to me) brand of organic chicken jerky for my dog. The rainbow juice assortment was instagrammable, I guess, but we all know juice gives you diabetes. A lot of hype about nothing. The LA invasion of SB continues. Gag.
The more I think about it — I'd much prefer a Erewhon over Whole Foods too. Take that spot, please!
If Caruso has his eye on buying the Upper Village Shopping center, that's where I'd bet Erewhon would end up. I don't think it would resonate on State Street, unless it was maybe in the Cantwell's location or something in that area. I'll take an Erewhon over Bristol Farms any day.
Cava! Miss that spot ?
Agree with Dan. We sure dodged a bullet voting Mayor Murillo out of office. Hopefully the city is better served by a political centrist in Randy Rowse.
Not that the two are particularly connected, but we continue to watch State St. continue its shameful decay. Walking down the street yesterday morning, I can't find even a single stained brick or untended plant that's been replaced on her term. On the other hand she used her energy to rush through a radical rent control policy that will be counterproductive to our housing problem in the long-term.
2% rent control in SB has the effect of making buildings here a worse investment for ANY owner - from a first-time individual to a megacorp - than the alternatives, like investing in property out of state, or putting that money into the stock market. Making investing in residential property less attractive will ultimately reduce supply as fewer dollars flow into building new housing or improving the stock that exists. We currently can't house most people who work here let alone all those who want to move here - we are short on supply. Yes, we're wedged between the ocean and the mountains with relatively little space to build compared to most cities. But, if you look around, there's plenty of space that could be developed into quality residential units... that's vastly less likely to happen with policies such as the one Mayor Murillo tried to ram though that are hostile to those willing to take a personal risk to build housing in this city.
Welcome Mayor Rowse, and I hope you'll make better decisions for our city.
No Josh, Cathy scored nothing. I'm using my sarcastic voice as I write this. For the past ten, maybe twenty years the city has been doing studies of State street and how to revitalize it. But in one week Oscar and Cathy put on the agenda an issue that could impact every renter and rental property owner in SB. Wow, it passed, Kristen asked the right questions, but she still voted for it. That doesn't make sense. And to council member Alejandra G. you were brilliant as the clocked passed 11:30pm.
It would be a shame if the Upper Village was sold, changed or "upgraded"... some of us old timers like some things to stay the same.. or close to it. I am glad that is a rumor and i hope Norman Borgatello hangs on to the last of "old Montecito". We like it just fine the way it is!
Thanks for answering my gas station question! I love your newsletter. I’m new to Montecito and reading Siteline has been a wonderful way to get to know the area. Thank you!!
Last time I drove by (a week ago?), there appeared to be work going on. I tried asking for an update on Instagram, but I didn't hear back.
Any info on when or if Pierre Lafond bistro will reopen?
