••• While hiking McMenemy Trail, I took a moment to check in on the construction at the northern end of San Ysidro Ranch; the land got cleared of all but oak trees, and now split-rail fences have been put up and planting is underway. The unofficial word, long ago, was that Ty Warner wanted a botanical garden.
••• Farther up the trail, I spotted two houses worth keeping an eye on: the conversion of a water tank next to 1510 E. Mountain Drive (in the bottom of the photo) and the total redo of retro-fabulous 1508 E. Mountain Drive (the circular building a bit higher up).
••• The Covet/Cherval Studio shop at 707 Anacapa Street has closed, and the adorable 505-square-foot building is for rent for $2,250 per month (for three to five years). UPDATE: The shop has closed, but Cherval is still open by appointment through September.
••• The Tina Schlieske Quintet plays the Lobero Theatre on October 26: “This album [The Good Life], featuring renowned musicians Cody McKinney, Pete Hennig, Bryan Nichols, Brandon Wozniak, and Jake Baldwin, is a departure into uncharted jazz territory.”
••• The Drift hotel has created an indoor/outdoor event space called Drift Galería in the former carpet store next door (528 State Street).
••• “Do you know what’s going on at the northwest corner of Chapala and Victoria?” asked J. “Ayers Repairs (which was there for eons) has left.” The city’s website says that plans have been filed, but none are online, and the earliest appointment I could make to see them is two weeks from now. Anyone out there know what’s up with 1301 Chapala Street? And possibly 1305 Chapala Street?
••• As I mentioned in the recent roundup of new listings, I was unaware of the network of public trails below Mission Ridge Road in the Riviera. The signs at the access points on Mira Vista Avenue, Dover Road, and Dover Hill Road all describe it as Franceschi Park, which is confusing to those of us (including Google Maps) who think of the park as being north of Mission Ridge Road. But the city of Santa Barbara’s parks map (below) shows that Franceschi Park also has a lower section, not unlike nearby Orpet Park. Naturally, I went over for a look, and I had a blast. Go check it out! And as on any trail that abuts homes, don’t be an ass.
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Enjoy the McMenemy Trail while you can, Ty is moving it to a new location so the public can no longer get close to his new garden/wedding space.
I don’t think Warner has that kind of power. And as I wrote two years ago, that part of McMenemy Trail “has always been problematic because of the dreaded section with all the switchbacks, which hikers, cyclists, and dogs regularly cut, causing erosion; moreover, the trail now runs along a section of unattractive fence and by a (rather grand) house and parking lot, which is not the experience most people crave when they’re hiking. So when the two property owners in question said the trail could be relocated elsewhere on their parcels—i.e., further into nature, rather than along the property line—it was a prime opportunity to solve all of the above issues.”
Ty does have that kind of power. Several years back, maybe 10 by now, he completely shut down two historical public trail easements that had been used since at least the 1940’s on the top of East Mtn. Drive to access the McMenemy trail. Fences were put up, security installed, and access is now completely gone at its former locations.
Now, he with the with MTF, is moving the McMenemy trail away from its historical location and away from the SYR’s new garden space. The USFS representative who does maintenance on the trail, is completely against moving the trail to its proposed location, due to the consistency to slides during wet weather events. There has been consistent push back by trail users in general, however the plans continue to be implemented for the trails relocation.
I am surprised you didn’t get a photo with the enormous stone head/face on one of the Francheschi trails. It’s the one that overlooks the road below you can see when driving up to the house.
This item was only about the part of Franceschi Park that’s below Mission Ridge Road.
We live near these trails and it was confusing what to call them when we moved here. Love the views from near the top. Mira Vista home owner put a coded gate on the entrance during Covid but city was called and it was immediately removed and reopened. If you buy a house on one of the trails you need to accept the foot traffic. Another house on APS with path that goes down to Oramas rd just sold for 5 million so I guess it doesn’t effect sales price too much.
The Drift hotel was a huge improvement for that property. They did a nice job overall and the coffee shop/bar is great. Interested to see what they do with that adjacent space.
Two comments, first is the 707 Anacapa sweet studio, I’m the gardener for La Paloma across the street and would love to take on this property. Note to the future tenant. . . Second, lower Franceschi park was once a magical park. All of those pathways you see in the photos used to have succulents that were five feet high. It was like the Riviera Secret Garden. But then some idiot working in the SB Parks department cut everything, and I mean every living plant right to the ground. Which is why you see it that way today.
How tragic. How on earth does that happen? That is a disgrace. Destroying our beautiful park. Who is in charge?
I walk through there weekly and it’s still pretty thriving. Lots of plant life.
Sad to hear “Covet” has come and gone so quickly from that adorable cottage on Anacapa. I didn’t even know they were there! I would have frequented it! I don’t think the community knew about it.
The photo labeled “1508 and 1510 E Mountain Drive by Siteline, Item 3 of 15” has a VERY interesting rust colored flying object 2/3rds up along the left edge! We all see them and I’m guessing, dragon fly.
Good eye! That was indeed a dragonfly.
I am sorry you outted the Rivera paths, initially for kids to walk to school in the day. The secret has provided residents more safety, peacefulness, and fire prevention. SHH🤫