This is NOT better, this is following the same broken idea of a promenade that no one wanted.
You are silver tongued my friend "A". Communities grow on the concept of community, Not one set pushing ideas on others.
I have lived here for 45 years, the city should "stop dreaming". that this is anything other than a place to LIVE for the people that live here. NOT TOURISTS. dont give me that dribble of " how do we make money " your community, your citizens, we spend money. but if we dont have anywhere to shop, anywhere to go that feels like us. we WONT spend money here.
stupid plans to bring money from other areas, while ignoring the "money" that is earned and used RIGHT here.
Our city's have been turned into economies, where they should never have been. The city should not sell itself, should not market itself for tourist 'transient" dollars. Get the dollars of the people that live here, work here, build here, and make it "iconic".
developers that are NOT local, Owners that are 4 states away, are NOT those. they are NOT the ones to make it "iconic'..... we are. Santa Barbara locals
you know the ones that made this town what it was BEFORE it was turned into a cash grab tourist town. Progression is fine, but progression just for the fact of progression isnt always the best plan. nor is it best for a community.
stop running our cities like business's, they are not. they are where people live.
No, no no no no. Ask the locals. we do NOT want more sidewalks and tighter travel lanes.
I have not run into ONE local that wants anything like this.
When it takes that many pages and graphics to explain a simple situation, you know something is very wrong. Complicating street opening and closing days and times, forced theme “zones”, etc. are a distraction. Our downtown grew organically with people walking AND driving past businesses. The road and parking infrastructure is already there.
An added benefit of cars returning is that they will help to slow e-bikes by constricting and separating their directional travel lanes.
If you haven't already...try Rozzi Pizza. Chef-owner David Rosner is a real NY pizza guy. St. Bibiana is also excellent.
I never park at the airport. They do not provide real time data and so you might end up in short term (expensive) or in the overflow/economy lot waiting around for a shuttle in Timbuktoo. What is the point exactly of enduring all this time consuming hassle when I can just Uber? Uber is not super wasteful as they can pick up a return ride at SBA. Or I have family or friends to pick up or drop. What's the problem exactly? Just manage the current lots better. Raise the rates a bit so that there is a bit more room in the lots and less people leave their cars for weeks at a time. Increase the daily rate after 5 days for instance. I go to the airport all the time. Hardly ever see cars move out of there. With fully self driving cars coming in a few years, building parking, which is expensive, makes no sense. It's likely a money grab but soon there won't be much, if any, money to grab.
Sam, The history of every worthwhile civic achievement is written by people willing to see what does not yet exist and then do the hard work to make it real. If the world operated from the mindset of “it can’t be done,” we would still be living in caves. Your comment is exactly what holds cities back. It offers no solution, no imagination, and no contribution beyond reflexive cynicism.
Of course a plan like this takes funding, phasing, commitment, and creativity. That is true of every meaningful public improvement. But dismissing a bold vision because it is ambitious is not wisdom. It is small thinking. Great cities are not shaped by people whose main contribution is to point at obstacles. They are shaped by people with optimism, courage, and the ability to imagine a better future.
And since your comment seems determined to focus on what you think cannot work, let’s take those kinds of points one by one and turn them right side up:
* **“It costs too much.”**
The best public investments often do. Great promenades, civic spaces, and downtown improvements create value for decades, not just for a budget cycle.
* **“It’s unrealistic.”**
Vision always looks unrealistic to people who lack imagination. That does not make it unrealistic. It makes it ambitious.
* **“Tourists won’t care.”**
Tourists come back to places that are memorable, beautiful, walkable, and alive. That is exactly how a strong vision helps fuel the local economy.
* **“Downtown is already struggling.”**
That is precisely why bold thinking matters. The answer to decline is not more pessimism. It is a better plan.
* **“Young people working for low wages won’t benefit.”**
Students and young workers earning $20 an hour today are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, leaders, professionals, and yes, sometimes even benevolent billionaires. Great cities invest in environments that inspire them to grow.
* **“We should only focus on what is practical right now.”**
Practicality without vision produces stagnation. Vision paired with execution is what produces greatness.
* **“The City should stop dreaming.”**
No. The City should keep dreaming, keep planning, and keep building. That is how economies grow, communities strengthen, and places become iconic.
I applaud the supervisors and planners who are willing to put forward a bold vision while absorbing criticism from people who seem unable to see beyond the next complaint. I do not like people who cannot see a better tomorrow. You are a drag on our collective optimism. Please keep your negativity to yourself and stop trying to pull the rest of us down.
Be a visionary, or be quite please, because the rest of us are trying to make things better. A.
As a Carp neighbor, I’m proud and happy that a local family has committed to our little town in such a soulful and creative way. We have a lot of “out-of-towners” coming in to change things and make money. Celebrate and support local.
Who is supposed to pay for this design by committee monster? The empty shop owners? The people who live downtown in subsidized housing? The students making $20 an hour? The tourists buying $40 t-shirts and eating $20 burgers staying at $400 a night motels? The locals who are already taxed and fee'd at some of the highest rate in the nation? A benevolent billionaire? The city employees who graciously agree to work less for more money every year? Who?
I will take "things that will never happen in Santa Barbara" for $1000.
Coyote's is a wonderful new option in Carp. i don't eat beef - - but their seafood is fresh and delicious - bought a yummy tuna sandwich the other day; a piece of gorgeous ocean trout the next to make for dinner at home. They are carrying high quality chicken - pork and lamb; lovely looking sausages. These are Carp locals and let's support them. Welcome to the 'hood Caroline and Peter! (and there's saurerkraut for any sour pusses out there! ; - ) Now between this and our charming Farm Cart Organics the only thing Carp is lacking is a cheese monger. (Coyote's does sell some nice cheeses....I hope they bring in one of my favs, Nacasio Valley Farm cheeses
There's a good reason nothing makes it in that location.
The folks running SBA want it to grow, which means adding more and more parking lots.
Confused about why it's preferable to be dropped off rather than park at the airport. If I park it's two trips in a car - there and back. If I get dropped off it's four. Plus the distance my ride has to travel to me and away to wherever they're from. Isn't parking better? What am I missing?
If the pizza is NY/NJ/CON good than WELCOME to Santa Barbara…. Home to some of the worst pizza in America…… born and raised in Washington DC…… Definitely miss East Coast quality pies……
420 and 430 Santa Rosa are not going to be worth 9.5-14M as soon as Charlie Puth’s 10,000 sq ft mega mansion is built and blocks any view of the ocean.
Just off the top of my head, since there used to be a Gas Station there, those underground gas tanks, should've been removed, and the area soil decontaminated, if need be , but if they haven't been, well they will have to be, and that's a pain in the ass. Just ask Mc. Donalds in Carp.
Mr. Warner has demonstrated a cavalier disregard to the surrounding community by time and again FAILING to reopen this hotel, holding the locals as "hostages." Such a shame that this historic place has fallen into the hands of someone of incredible distaste and absence of community awareness.
We’re going to have a real restaurant row on CVR! So happy when these prime spaces are used for things like this and not real estate offices or banks.
Oh don’t worry that’s coming too ✨
This message is for Jenna! I don’t think anyone cares about your opinion therefore I would keep it to my self.
Jenna, I hope you believe in choice ?
Where can I get salt on a walk??
Going to Denver for 4 days- got lucky to have a fly out 1 pm and return in at 3 pm- easy peasy for my husband/friend to drop & pick me up!
Agreed!
So excited!!!! Great idea and great for the neighborhood!!!!
Any update on what's going on with The Shopkeepers? The Linden Square location also appears to be cleared out.
