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Architect’s Carnival: I admit: Architects make me nervous. They are a breed.To become an architect in Santa Barbara (but probably anywhere) you’d better bring predatory cool of a street hustler visionary authority and the ability to blow a prettier purple haze than the most accomplished rhythm poet. Of course, being able to draw the prettiest pictures—sorry, “vignettes”—each one more charming and mesmerizing than the next. All architects are eager for Michelangelo’s next blank canvas.If you haven’t figured it out yet That canvas is you.
My bias was confirmed on Monday night, March 18, when eight Santa Barbara architects—who generously donated hundreds of hours of their professional time—attempted to stop 17 members State Street Master Planning Committee Lest they jump out of the nearest first-floor window.
I think the process of developing the master plan was hatched 17 months ago, although it took so long that even the committee members are no longer sure.Their goal is to summon a long term view What Santa Barbara wants its downtown to be.The existing 10-year-old model is Extremely dilapidated Unless your idea of urban vitality is chalk drawings on the streets.
To date, the Commission has been forced to rely on computer generated renderings Produced by their consultants (for which City Hall paid $800,000), it shows Preservatives, illegible, It could be anywhere, or it could be nowhere at all. Any wow factor—or trace of Santa Barbara—is conspicuously absent.
These eight architects – dubbed “revelers” by wildlife experts – succeeded in bringing “Wow” great smell. Like everyone else in the room, I’m a sucker for hand-drawn street scene sketches. Say the word “paseo” enough times and my mouth will water; just add the word “canopy” and I’m yours.
The future they hint at — eight blocks between Haley and Sola — is heavily influenced by Santa Barbara Old Town past.One person said Santa Barbara “is romantic chaos with city grid. “There’s a lot of talk about meandering. Another said the street was like a river, with ripples, cascades, rapids and waterfalls.One member praised the architect Reinject “poetry” Back to the conversation. Another described the architect’s work as a “home run.” At one point, I found myself in need of galoshes or a cold shower.
They’re just that good.
Breaking the spell is Li Haileis one of Santa Barbara’s most ubiquitous civic activists with a disturbing penchant for tacks.She argued that architects were building at an altitude of 100,000 feet; they would do a great job Descend into pseudo-reality Provided by a 30,000 foot high habitat.Who will pay for these magical winding trails, she asked, adding: “We have to back to reality”.
No one knows how much space the eight-block extension would allow. car or bikeor, or neither. liquidity issues Not addressed, let alone addressed.According to public comments, the debate over bicycles, e-bikes and pedestrians remains rooted in quasi-religious dogma insisted by mutually intransigent camps. (Fun fact, especially for anyone suffering from the e-bike scare: E-bikes account for half of all bipedal transportation in Santa Barbara. They are not the future; they are the future. they are now.)
Another fun fact: El Pueblo Viejo is the least populated real estate area within the city limits. The city center is usually the most populous.there’s a lot of talk economic vitality, vitality, and other words starting with the letter “V”. To the extent that our downtowns become “Viagraified,” that’s because people will actually live downtown. Of course, that means housing. Now, only five percent of city center buildings have any housing. Another interesting fact.
A few weeks ago, City Hall gave preliminary approval to a construction plan that’s still not quite “pre-concept.” 500 rental properties — seven stories high, maybe — where new walk Stand now. This would be the worst earthquake to hit Santa Barbara since the 1925 earthquake.
At a recent meeting, councilors were told they had Bargaining power is zero There is no time to haggle with the developers in this deal, if they try and mess things up the mall will still be a Festering black holeAt least for the next 41 years.On affordability, MPs and public warned lower expectations .
The only way to get any amount of truly affordable housing is to get housing authority Get involved and then build on any of them Underutilized parking lot Owned by City Hall, Santa Barbara County, California and local churches.
It’s like the feud between bikes vs. cars vs. pedestrians that isn’t resolved in pretty photos. Or, to be fair, the committee itself.Same for Partition changes All this housing needs to be allowed downtown.or new Utility infrastructure changes There is a need to accommodate housing like this.
One final note: All this new housing – if we’re really serious – will create lots of extra trafficOn the road, they will find themselves increasingly restricted. My selfish two cents worth: The more bikes (especially e-bikes) can replace the need for cars, the more they should actively, aggressively, ecstatically encouraged .Given that 42% of Americans meet the criteria for obesity and health care costs are driving America’s rising deficit – here’s a quote I stole from a certain SB resident Trek President John Burke——Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone.
Don’t get me wrong. I like pretty pictures. Every photo tells a story.Image generously donated by the architect may be helpfulFigure out what we want our story to be. They’re just that good.
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