I love Santa Barbara (Oakland, Berkeley: best cities, apartment complexes, rent)

[Winterfall8324]

My parents are moving back there, and I've been visiting there over almost every winter.

Its dry and its grown a little too much, but its honestly one of the best cities in the country.

Architecture is head and heel over anything else in California except for maybe Carmel.

However I'm worried where its heading; even before coronavirus state street seems to be dying (??) [no clue why].

And too much investment, construction, and cars. Its still great and Montecito hasn't changed much.

I'm worried, that's all.

[Ruth4Truth]

Lots of cities are outgrowing their streets. Higher density means gridlock. But SB is beautiful!

I was there too long ago to remember much about the architecture. Berkeley has beautiful architecture! It would be hard to beat Berkeley. Now you have me curious.

So, you live all the way over in NH? That's a long way from SB. I guess you won't be moving into your parents' in-law apartment?

[mysticaltyger]

I think the retail on State Street is suffering like all retail, unfortunately. If people want unique retail shops, they have to stop buying everything at WalMart, Target, & Amazon.

[Winterfall8324]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Lots of cities are outgrowing their streets. Higher density means gridlock. But SB is beautiful!

I was there too long ago to remember much about the architecture. Berkeley has beautiful architecture! It would be hard to beat Berkeley. Now you have me curious.

So, you live all the way over in NH? That's a long way from SB. I guess you won't be moving into your parents' in-law apartment?

They'd buy me a plane ticket, but that's coming to an end now so I won't be going as often anymore.

Not living with them anymore but I use to live in SB when I was really little, then moved to Maryland, and now I'm in NH.

I like all three, but I feel SB is the best California has to offer... and also some of the best weather.

Its foggy most mornings, and if you stay by the coast their is a cool ocean breeze that circulates.

Driving 2 hours to the beaches by LA, the weather is 10 degrees warmer.

The city has a stucco/Mediterranean style that all (most) buildings go by, even work offices and apartment complexes.

The new stuff being built up by the harbor is the same style, and I think there is a regulation that keeps all the new buildings in the same mold. Most American cities don't have that.

The only thing that worries me is the speed at which state street is dying, and overpopulation/development.

Most of the stores are independent rather than chain brands, and there is a tone of unique stuff, Turkish dealer that is always going out of business, board game store, antiques, etc.

But I guess people don't shop from these places as much anymore. The young crowd in Isla Vista don't have money, the old people don't spend, and the rest are latino working class. A bad mix, and pretty segregated (culturally).

I still love the cliff side by the four seasons, the residential neighborhoods, parks, etc.

I'm just worried it won't be the same pretty soon, though who knows.

[roadwarrior101]

I have relatives in Santa Barbara and it is indeed beautiful. They come from old money, so they're able to live in their bubble without much connection to reality. Unfortunately, I wasn't part of this inheritance.

I think SB is the kind of place you go when you already have a lot of money, to live the country club lifestyle during retirement (or early retirement). Its a decent place to raise a family, but surprisingly, the schools are only so-so.

I suppose if you could work remotely with a tech job, it could be good as well. Otherwise, if you're a UCSB grad who wants to stay, you're probably going to be under-employed in some service sector job with a much lower standard of living than you'd have elsewhere.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Winterfall8324

They'd buy me a plane ticket, but that's coming to an end now so I won't be going as often anymore.

Not living with them anymore but I use to live in SB when I was really little, then moved to Maryland, and now I'm in NH.

I like all three, but I feel SB is the best California has to offer... and also some of the best weather.

Its foggy most mornings, and if you stay by the coast their is a cool ocean breeze that circulates.

Driving 2 hours to the beaches by LA, the weather is 10 degrees warmer.

The city has a stucco/Mediterranean style that all (most) buildings go by, even work offices and apartment complexes.

The new stuff being built up by the harbor is the same style, and I think there is a regulation that keeps all the new buildings in the same mold. Most American cities don't have that.

The only thing that worries me is the speed at which state street is dying, and overpopulation/development.

Most of the stores are independent rather than chain brands, and there is a tone of unique stuff, Turkish dealer that is always going out of business, board game store, antiques, etc.

But I guess people don't shop from these places as much anymore. The young crowd in Isla Vista don't have money, the old people don't spend, and the rest are latino working class. A bad mix, and pretty segregated (culturally).

I still love the cliff side by the four seasons, the residential neighborhoods, parks, etc.

I'm just worried it won't be the same pretty soon, though who knows.

That sounds very interesting, though; the perfect tourist street, as well as attractive to residents. Berkeley has preserved two such streets via enacting commercial rent control for those specific streets. It's one way to make a commitment to support locally-owned businesses of various sorts. The old hardware store that was there when I was a kid is still there, the two bookstores, one on the Berkeley section of the street, one on the Oakland side, are still there, though under new ownership, and still popular, good little eateries, specialty grocers, artisan clothing shops, etc. Still popular with the locals. Wal-Mart and Target don't exist in Berkeley.

So IDK what the problem is with that, in SB. Not enough upscale residents? Students can't afford some of that stuff, or it's too far from the university? Maybe the business community needs to organize, and come up with an enticing promotional campaign...? Are the store fronts old and tired-looking, not updated?

[Winterfall8324]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

That sounds very interesting, though; the perfect tourist street, as well as attractive to residents. Berkeley has preserved two such streets via enacting commercial rent control for those specific streets. It's one way to make a commitment to support locally-owned businesses of various sorts. The old hardware store that was there when I was a kid is still there, the two bookstores, one on the Berkeley section of the street, one on the Oakland side, are still there, though under new ownership, and still popular, good little eateries, specialty grocers, artisan clothing shops, etc. Still popular with the locals. Wal-Mart and Target don't exist in Berkeley.

So IDK what the problem is with that, in SB. Not enough upscale residents? Students can't afford some of that stuff, or it's too far from the university? Maybe the business community needs to organize, and come up with an enticing promotional campaign...? Are the store fronts old and tired-looking, not updated?

I love it, but the stores are dying. Many are closing or moving to montecito.

I don't like the big chain brands, but nothing is replacing these independent shops. People don't spend money, and like what one other poster said, its mostly old money.

The pool club, golf course, etc. have members but actually shopping is minimal. The cloths are also expensive because many are made in california brands.

My mom loves that stuff since she has the money and goes out of her way to buy American brands, but such places don't attract tourists looking for cheap easy stuff.

If SB had a more robust local economy it could work, but sadly young people out of college have little reason to stay. On one hand that means it doesn't become another silicon valley, on the other hand it means there isn't a healthy demographic mix. Again its working class latinos, older rich people, and college kids in Isla Vista.
And homeless people but they really aren't that bad.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Winterfall8324

If SB had a more robust local economy it could work, but sadly young people out of college have little reason to stay. On one hand that means it doesn't become another silicon valley, on the other hand it means there isn't a healthy demographic mix. Again its working class latinos, older rich people, and college kids in Isla Vista.
And homeless people but they really aren't that bad.

I thought some of the Hollywood people had homes in SB, so not necessarily retired rich, but also working rich.

But it sounds like Covid is dealing the locally-owned commercial sector there its death blow. That's very sad. I don't know how SB leans politically, and its city council, but it has a choice of banning national chain businesses outright, or at least -- instituting commercial rent control for State Street. But it sounds like neither of those measures would save the day, given current circumstances, Covid and all.

[dcisive]

SB is hard left of course no surprise there. It's nice to have tons of $$$$ so of course the digs there reflect that. The hills above town are where all the elite live of course.

[Winterfall8324]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I thought some of the Hollywood people had homes in SB, so not necessarily retired rich, but also working rich.

But it sounds like Covid is dealing the locally-owned commercial sector there its death blow. That's very sad. I don't know how SB leans politically, and its city council, but it has a choice of banning national chain businesses outright, or at least -- instituting commercial rent control for State Street. But it sounds like neither of those measures would save the day, given current circumstances, Covid and all.

I have no clue how it leans politically, I don't even know what national party is leading the county, but I do know the Reagan ranch is here. The visitors center is in downtown if I remember correctly.

SB was where Hollywood was original located before they moved to LA, and it has old classic movie theaters from that time.

Most of the Hollywood rich live up in the mountains like Oprah. The rich down by the coast are old money or old people with money like Ty Warner (he owns a ton of stuff off the Biltmore).

I have talked to some long time residents of Santa Barbara about something political, but they would never broach the subject.