I would dispute much of what you posted. For 21 years I've lived right down the street from the tree but my first time seeing it was in 1981. The tree is in perfect health and location to live happily for decades to come. Unlike the tree in LA that you linked to. That tree was in a plaza, most likely surrounded by pavement, not wood chips and lawn like our tree.
The trees on Milpas are not Morton Bay fig trees, they are commonly known as Indian Laurel, yes both are Ficus, but not the same. And since you brought it up I've also noticed the amount of abuse the Milpas trees suffer. Entire branches torn off by trucks over the years and the trees don't seem to mind. They are planted in the most awful location on sidewalks surrounded by pavement. Again, they seem perfectly happy and in no danger from Ecoterrorism. . . I believe. You could drive a truck into the side of the Morton Bay fig and it would be fine, the truck, not so much.
I would prefer no fence of any kind around the tree, like it used to be. Some people like to go to church and worship, I like to walk under and sit between the giant raised roots. It's more my kind of church. It should be open at all times.
Stica is located in the spot previously built for and used as The Baker's Table, which moved to it's Sagunto Street location
‘Decorative’ for the purpose of this proposed fence means a security protective fence for the HISTORIC TREE to prevent willful or negligent ecoterrorism. It would be a shame to lose the 120+ year old tree and the largest of its kind in the USA.
Last week the city started removing these trees along Milpas because they could not manage the related infrastructure costs around its large root expansion.
In 2019 a similarly aged tree fell in Los Angeles, we want to protect the tree quickly, not waste time and energy deliberating the style of fencing. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pueblo-tree-falls-20190309-story.html
If you spend any time along that block of Montecito Street there is a hobo camp feel to it. The park managed by the City Parks dept is known simply as ‘Moreton Bay Fig Tree’. It welcomes the Amtrak travelers to downtown Santa Barbara. No doubt the area should be cleaned up and the tree should be protected, but please consider the cities need for security around the ‘tree protection zone’ and promptness to this important historical and heritage tree and it’s proximity to both a high traffic and high vagrancy area. It’s sad the city has come to this where it can’t afford to continue to protect and maintain its many parks (or house its own people)-let alone valuable historical assets. The fence as proposed is an immediate improvement to the rental temporary chain link fence which has been used in the past. In November our new city manager Kelly Macadoo responded quickly to those who wanted to see the temporary fence removed, this proposal shows a willingness to address problems quickly and effectively and should not be punted back to design brainstorming at risk of losing the tree for the reasons and rationale originally stated to fence off the area-which is still not addressed: homeless parking and encampments in the west beach neighborhood. (https://keyt.com/lifestyle/community/2024/11/13/park-setting-next-to-the-famous-santa-barbara-fig-tree-reopens/)
Please don’t let design perfection prevent prudent progress for a city department that is already overstretched financially.
PS
Is Shelton the only creative/designer (or iron/metal worker) in Santa Barbara you can think of? We have many contributing artists and craftspeople here in our community.
Clementine's?
Can you remind me of the name of the steak house in Carpinteria? Btw I love your site. I read it religiously!
We had lunch at Stica today - it was simply delicious. It’s located just up the street from the new Santa Ynez Chumash Museum two great reason to make your way to town!
This is an exceptional neighborhood (1522 Knoll Circle Drive). Clean, well tended, well lit, low crime, ample setbacks, no jammed-in street parking, no rotting fences, graffiti, overgrowth or the sardinepack of ADUs that convert streets into impassable parking lots. This spacious little neighborhood shines far above most of the cramped vertical hillside dwellings of the riviera. Eucalyptus Hill is a jewel.
Perfect. Done.
I encourage you all to contact the HLC about the fence, because I wouldn't assume any of the commissioners are reading this. The meeting is Wednesday and the item is on the consent agenda, so do it soon. The email is [email protected].
Couldn't agree more about using Shelton to add some cohesiveness to other downtown efforts (i.e. the underpass walkway project). This proposed fence couldn't be more boring and looking a bit like it belongs in a cemetery.
Yes … great call and couldn’t agree more. That tree is amazing … the proposed fence not so much.
I was just going to post the same thing Cynthia. I clicked the link thinking there would be a Shelton brothers design. The fig tree deserves one!
I’m not getting “decorative” from that fence. Seems like the city should call in the Shelton brothers on this and give the Morton Bay fig a fence that’s worthy of it
Exactly. And I also noticed that the links are non-functioning.
And when were the overdue property taxes incurred? Before or after this "Mission" came to exist at this location?
Also, how could the Unitarian Society have no affiliation with another Unitarian Universalist group, unless the group isn't legit.
Totally agree. Brass Bird is fabulous. Hope they read this and reconsider haha
Thanks for all this hard work, Erik. Much appreciated!
👍
When is Jeannine’s opening in San Roque?
It breaks my heart everyday since Metro left us.
It appears the "church" rapidly published the website you mentioned above as many of the menu options are not linked to additional pages.
Say, if anyone wants to start a religious gathering in my garage I can avoid my property taxes.
Why should anyone expect our elected officials to act promptly in the interest of the SB community when their negligence in complying with state filing deadlines led directly to these proposed "builder remedy" monstrosities? The whole lot of them should be voted out.
City of SB officials need to get off the butts for sure...and money exchanged fraudulently should definitely be under the microscope. As of now, siting on their butts seems to be the mode of operation!
Re the "Unitarian Universalist Mission" supposedly leasing 505 E Olivos St, I found a website for the "Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary" at that address. I've never heard of it: https://www.unitarianuniversalistsanctuary.org
I have never read comments on Siteline but this banter is chef’s kiss.
Get off your asses City of SB and investigate this issue immediately. When this goes for a vote of the public, it will unanimously be denied. You cannot go against the will of the people who elected you. And remember you will not survive in office if you do. We will also be carefully watching to see if any money is exchanging hands fraudulently.
