••• Press release from Caltrans, SBCAG, et al: “The Santa Claus Lane Bikeway project will begin construction after Labor Day and run through summer 2023. The project will create a new Class I bikeway and multipurpose path to connect Santa Claus Lane to Carpinteria Avenue. This will close a gap in the California Coastal Trail between Sand Point Road and Carpinteria Avenue. The new bikeway will be constructed in between Highway 101 and the railroad tracks.” There’s more info at SBRoads.com, including this: “As part of the bikeway project, the intersection at Carpinteria Avenue and Estero Street will be updated with new crosswalks, signage, landscaping, curbs and gutters, and bike lanes. At the western end of the project, a new vehicular turnaround will be built at the end of Santa Claus Lane.”
••• Metropolitan Theatres ran an ad in the Independent saying that it’ll be renovating Paseo Nuevo Cinemas and Camino Real Cinemas with “luxury seating,” “new concessions,” “full bar,” and “expanded food and beverage menu.” Bring on better seats, by all means, but I’d trade the food-and-drink stuff for a really deep cleaning.
••• The folks at Reid’s Appliances on Gutierrez said that construction is finally about to start on the big apartment complex next door. Here’s the Santa Barbara News-Press‘s description from August 2020, which I think is still accurate: “This new development involves retaining and modifying the approximately 17,150 square-foot building at 410 State St. and retaining the approximately 6,800 square-foot building at 409 Anacapa St., a voluntary lot merger to combine the three parcels, and construction of a new 84-unit, four-story Priority Housing project over the east parking lot.” Last anyone heard, it includes an outpost of The Pad climbing gym in the State Street building. UPDATE 8/30: The Pad says it’s not moving into that location after all, but we might hope for a location elsewhere in the area.
••• While we’re on the subject of new apartment buildings, a “4-story 36-unit mixed-use development” at 932 De La Vina (southeast corner of Carrillo, where Jiffy Lube is) goes in front of the Historic Landmarks Commission on Wednesday. The design by MW Architects could be worse, but the blank expanses of wall at sidewalk level are a drag.
••• Interesting commercial property for lease: 22 W. Mission Street, where there’s a “tile foyer with hardwoods in 2 private offices and the great room. Excellent space for retail, office, wellness & more. There is a sunny brick patio at the entrance creating a lovely outdoor space to enjoy on beautiful days.”
••• Up now at Marcia Burtt Gallery: Ornament in Nature, which includes this feisty little 5″x5″ painting by Dana Hooper.
••• I finally made it to the My Pet Ram gallery, one of the funkier spaces in the Funk Zone. Here’s hoping it’ll stick around now that the inaugural one, Double Up, has ended. I’m wishing I had made a move on Dan Levenson’s “Patty Beer,” below.
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Oh good grief, another 4-story 30 apartment building proposed?? I work across from the one at Ortega & Anacapa and every person I’ve met that lives there moved here from LA or points further. They are all nice people, I’m sure they are grateful these apartments were built.
Agreed, Dan O. Also, traffic at that corner is already a nightmare; where are all these residents going to park? And where’s all the water going to come from?
On another note: I’m pretty sure that 22 W Mission did a short stint as a coffee shop in the 90’s.
The Green Dragon coffee shop! A favorite hangout of my high school years. Would love to see some kind of public business in that cool space again.
Yes, that’s it! It is/was an interesting space for business. I think though that the parking would be a hindrance…? Do they have any dedicated parking, I can’t remember?
the city approved that monstrosity? my god.