••• “I’m so curious about the former Tri County Office Furniture building and Merricks Garage on 228 Santa Barbara Street in the Funk Zone,” emailed M. “It says it’s owned by the Paskin Group. They just painted a beautiful blue flower mural on the building. What’s it going to be?” The folks at Paskin Group got right back to me: “228 Santa Barbara will be the new home of The Paskin Group and Bright Studios, a collaboration of a local real estate investment company and art studios.” UPDATE: The mural is by David Flores.
••• The plan for 335 S. Milpas Street—currently home to Tri-County Produce and other buildings—has changed, according to the Architectural Board of Review’s September 3 agenda. The old design called for 99 apartments, with Tri-County Produce in a new commercial space; the new design is for just 53 apartments, and the Tri-County Produce building will remain (but expanded to the south, with an outdoor patio along Milpas, and more paved parking to the north).
••• The recent activity at Sonoma Fit (530 State Street) was apparently more of a death rattle than anything else: H. got someone from the company to admit that the Santa Barbara location is not happening.
••• The Bossé Toy Train Museum says it’s expecting its approved permits for its expansion any day now, after which construction is expected to take around 18 months.
••• Nearby is a sign that makes me roll my eyes every time I see it. Does anyone think this will work?
••• The Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival is September 14-15: “The annual gathering coalesces around passionate collectors and talented artists brought together by imagination, education and a fascination with the finds on our awe-inspiring coastline.”
••• According to the latest Highway 101 update, construction will start soon between Olive Mill and Hermosillo: “Crews will install temporary fencing along the shoulders. Beginning as early as September 15, crews will remove trees and vegetation from the northbound and southbound shoulders and median.” That means we’ll have construction all the way from Carpinteria Avenue to Hermosillo Road. Also, the unfortunate-looking Blue Star Memorial Highway section near Padaro Lane will include plaques indicating that the oak leaves and blue stripe are to honor World War I veterans.
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An art studio and real estate developer? Lol. It’s like peanut butter and warm sardines. They’re made for each other….
Can you ask who painted the mural?
Looks like it might be a David Flores mural!
Indeed it is! Thanks for the tip. He mentions it in this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-a_270Scg5/?img_index=1
What kind of money is washed through a toy train museum?
An old guy who likes model trains. It’s cool, check it out
Actually, they are classified as toy trains, not model trains. Why?
Because the trains themselves (three rail tracks) and the accessories (buildings) are not supposed to replicate reality. That is not to say they are not fun and lots of folks like them, but they are toys, not models (think HO or N scale)
Regarding the 101 update. Anyone know if the Cabrillo Blvd on ramp (heading south) is still happening ? (Near the new roundabout at bird refuge) Removing it was the biggest mistake ever made!
Yes, it’s in the plans.
Thanks for the very informative updates! We live in the middle of all those changes to our area, so it’s nice to know what to expect.
I’m all in favor of the Blue Star Memorial Hwy by Padero but the blue stripe on the medium is an eye sore, I can’t believe that part was approved. Very unfortunate and extremely distracting when driving.
The Tri-County Produce project (53 units, average size 830 sqft) could be improved. Option 1: eliminate all residential parking and reduce the height to 3 stories. Option 2: 4 stories, but AB 1287 project with 100 units (average size 446 sqft).
Happy to see the original building and business operation preserved. By this point it is a historic landmark. We won’t mention the SP Roundhouse across the street that was thoughtlessly demolished. If it were still extant it would attract a constant throng of tourists. Talk about a toy train museum…