Downtown Neighborhood

Aug 19th	Taking Sides on Future Path for Downtown Santa Barbara Real Estate Projects
2008	Categories: Downtown Neighborhood

As more and more larger multi-unit Santa Barbara real estate development projects get presented to the City of Santa Barbara for approval, discussions abound over the future development path the city is taking with these luxury condo projects.  In layman's terms, the debate is clear and simple. Side A: Wants to have strong height restrictions in place and preserve the "beauty" of Santa Barbara Side B: Wants to avoid urban sprawl and therefore would like to build inward with less height restrictions than what currently exist In my view, the politics of this debate have not been too prevalent as far as topics of conversation go... Read more

Tags: downtown santa barbara real estate, multi-unit santa barbara real estate, santa barbara luxury condo, santa barbara luxury townhome, santa barbara real estate, santa barbara real estate projects

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May 7th	The New Expansion of Luxury Townhomes and Condos in Santa Barbara CA.
2008	Categories: Downtown Neighborhood, Luxury Real Estate

In the last 3-5 years, Santa Barbara has seen several small mixed-use style projects consisting of 2-10 residential townhome units sprout up within shouting distance of State Street and the downtown area.  Most of these projects finished development before the market started to soften in early 2007 and therefore had no problem finding buyers. The Paseo Chapala project located on the Corner of Chapala Street and De La Guerra Street was the first major development in the last several years that unfortunately got caught in the downturn of the market and presently still has 7 residential units up for sale.  Even with this news,... Read more

Tags: santa barbara downtown condos, santa barbara downtown townhomes, santa barbara luxury condos, santa barbara luxury townhomes, santa barbara real estate

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Mar 18th	Is Downtown Santa Barbara Vertically Challenged?
2008	Categories: Downtown Neighborhood, Green Housing & Living

Over roughly the last 7 years, Santa Barbara has shown an obvious effort to try and grow "smartly and inwardly" as a solution to maintaining open spaces and halting sprawl, while adhering to the demands of housing pressure.  Many of these newer buildings are popping up with in walking distance to the hub of Santa Barbara, State Street.  But with this newer style of mixed-use growth, there are open debates as to whether this style of development is in the best interest of Santa Barbara. I just read a great article in the Independent written by Martha Sadler, specifically talking about the issues Santa... Read more

Tags: downtown santa barbara, santa barbara housing pressure, santa barbara mixed-use, santa barbara smart growth, santa barbara sprawl

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Feb 1st	Santa Barbara CA Neighborhoods – Downtown
2008	Categories: Downtown Neighborhood

Downtown Santa Barbara Santa Barbara's main thoroughfare, State Street, which divides the city of Santa Barbara between East and West, begins at Stearn's Wharf and continues for miles throughout the city. State Street itself is a microcosm of the entire city: filled with architectural beauty, performing arts and cultural centers (including the stately Arlington and Granada Theaters and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art), numerous fine restaurants and cafes, and world class shopping from chic boutiques to modern malls (including the historic El Paseo, California's first shopping center built in the 1920's). The downtown area is very walkable and gently slopes up... Read more

Tags: downtown, granada theater, real estate in downtown santa barbara, santa barbara museum of art, santa barbara neighborhoods, state street, stearn's wharf

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Jan 17th	Santa Barbara, CA Rated Amongst the Best Mid-sized Downtowns in California
2008	Categories: Downtown Neighborhood

When people think of well thought out downtowns, obviously Santa Barbara comes to mind.  Recently, the California Planning and Development Report voted Santa Barbara as #2 in mid-sized (pop. of 75,000 - 290,000 people) downtowns, only trailing Pasadena.  The report states that Santa Barbara is a California icon that fits numerous criteria of being a delightful urban place that is both manageable and pleasant with a sense of place and a feeling of vibrancy. For many locals, Santa Barbara downtown could fit on any of these sorts of lists because of simply its overall "feel".  Santa Barbara downtown is blessed with numerous open public spaces and... Read more

Tags: american riviera, Downtown Neighborhood, Santa Barbara, santa barbara downtown area, santa barbara downtown real estate

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