Big Price Cut for the “Floating Home” at the Harbor

••• The distinctive “floating home” at the harbor got a $900,000 price cut: it’s now $3.999 million.

••• Xanadu Skate Boutique‘s lease is ending and it’s searching for a new space. In the meantime, it’s clearing inventory with a big sale: “Each week new items will be added to the Roll Out Sale. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.” It’s too bad they can’t get a little shop at The Post (currently Las Aves), so people can skate right out to the waterfront….

••• There’s a new mural by Margaret Matson on the side of the Western Pacific Produce building at the northeast corner of Gutierrez and Chapala. Here’s the story behind it, from Matson (via T.):

The clients are so wonderful! I had painted at their home several years ago, in Sycamore Canyon, where I did a cabaña, and out of the blue they asked me to do this side of their office building after they had done such a lovely design refreshment to an old radiator shop. It is their main office for their business, Western Pacific Produce. They are produce distributors. I was given complete freedom to do “anything.” I loved that they wanted to be sensitive to the condominium folks who would face it into the future… and I proposed a kind of classical drawing, to actually do a “botanical” of produce, inspired by vintage seed packets. I hand-transferred my drawing to the wall with pencil and then drew it all with fine-tip oil marking pen(s). It was amazing to work in public and have conversations and experience people’s responses.

••• A Caltrans update about the San Jose Creek construction projects on Highway 101 and State Route 217 (i.e., the road to the airport) said that “the eastbound State Route 217 on-ramp at Sandspit Road will remain closed for the duration of the project,” so anyone leaving SBA will have to take Fairview Avenue until sometime in the summer of 2025. UPDATE: “Signs at SBA say to use Fairview, but Uber drivers say that going to the UCSB roundabout and back on 217 is quicker,” says @SB_Updater.

••• Favorites, a shop selling vintage and recycled clothing, is coming to 1101 State Street (at Figueroa).

••• A proposed 21-unit apartment complex at 4555 Hollister Avenue—more or less across from the fire station—goes before the County Planning Commission on April 24.

••• Eye of the Day Garden Design Center, which announced a moving sale starting May 1, will be relocating to Camarillo and Los Alamos.

••• Updated numbers have been provided for the proposed improvements at Birnam Wood Golf Club:

—Increase membership from 800 to 804.
—Renovate existing gym and an addition of 2,441 SF.
—Demolish 1,410 SF pro-shop.
—Construct new 3,100 SF golf and tennis pro-shop.
—Construct new 1,996 SF pool, 129 SF spa, and a 779 SF pool house containing restrooms.
—Construct a new 877 SF snack bar.
—Demolish 593 SF pool.
—Construct three new cottages (3,751 SF total).
—Remove 345 LF of driving range netting and fence.
—Replace 476 LF of 6-foot tall driving range fence with 20-foot tall netting.
—Reconfigure parking lots and add 43 new spaces for a total of 205 spaces.
—Relocate an existing easement associated with Packing House Road.
—Landscape and hardscape improvements.

••• The vacant lot at 102 W. De La Guerra Street, where a developer is proposing to build a five-story apartment/storage building is now offering paid parking. I guess the owner is squeezing some income from it while the project makes its way through the red tape. Thanks to P. for the photo.

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