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COVID-19: The big picture
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Developers continue downtown housing battle By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Property owners and developers are attempting to answer the call for more housing in downtown Santa Barbara, despite ever-rising costs. James Knell, the chairman of SIMA Management, is one developer accepting the challenge with a housing proposal in the 700 block of State Street. With a maximum height of 48 feet at its highest points, the structure will consist of anywhere from 36 to 42 units, with 10% of those marked as affordable housing units. The conceptual look and feel of the building with its size and scale was considered acceptable at the city’s Planning Commission last week. The project has roughly another 24 months
of approvals to earn before construction. However, because of this lengthy process, Mr. Knell said there’s a chance he’ll pull the project because of the complications. “I can go to other places and have a completed project in 18 months,” the developer told the News-Press. “As a property owner that’s been in Santa Barbara for a long, long time, to see this process and see the housing situation just spiral out of control… it’s not the builders or property owners. It’s the governmental overreach and regulations that have caused this problem.” He said he believes the city has failed to keep up with housing demand for the last 30 years, which is why the costs have skyrocketed, and developers Please see housing on A7
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Fountains trickle throughout the gardens of Casa del Herrero. Original owner George Steedman bought a water plant to be able to pump water to his home; those water lines still run today.
Casa del Herrero reopens for garden tours
tranquility,” Ms. Tade said. Guests can wander the gardens at their own pace, though they must follow the arrows pointing George Steedman, Casa del them to the next space. Herrero’s original owner, moved The exterior is broken into to the area to be near his brother room-like pieces, each with a who was treated for diabetes by different theme. There’s a sense Dr. William Sansum (founder of of continuity as fountains and Sansum Clinic). Now, a different Spanish tile connect the spaces. disease is impacting the estate: The gardens compliment the COVID-19. home’s Spanish colonial revival Executive Director Jessica Tade architecture. Sally Green, a docent, and Nichole LaViola, membership said Mr. Steedman ordered 7,000 and volunteer manager, adapted to COVID-19’s demands. They worked tiles from Spain. They’re spread for a month on a new plan, a tour of out among the landscape on the the outdoor gardens, led by visitors rock paths, benches and fountains. “I love how the sound of water and their smartphones instead of moves you through the different a guide. garden spaces,” Ms. Tade said. So after being closed for several There’s a blue-and-white garden months, Casa del Herrero, or where Mr. Steedman “House of the Blacksmith,” To see streaming video and his wife Carrie would watch the reopened — or GO TO flowers glisten in the more specifically, newspress.com moonlight. Ms. Tade its gardens likes visiting that reopened space when it starts to get dark Wednesday morning. outside to try and connect with the Interestingly enough, there’s Steedmans. a lot of history in these gardens. In the daytime, she strolls by the They’re designated as a national orchards for the fresh scent they historic site. provide. “Surrounding the architecture “It’s an amazing experience are beautiful gardens. They’re very because you can see the different neat and different,” Ms. Tade said. flowers that are blooming as well “The more you get to know the as smell the citrus,” she said. Casa, the more these really neat It’s almost impossible to count and interesting components come the many types of fruit trees and alive.” vines. So, every month, a local food QR codes scattered throughout bank comes and picks pounds of the various gardens give history lessons usually shared by a docent, fruit off the trees. A word Ms. Tade repeats is what the Casa calls its volunteer “community.” She tries to engage guides. So, guests can still hear locals, as the Steedman’s daughter, a piece of Santa Barbara history Medora Bass, aimed to do by while taking strict precautions. donating the family home. “What we’re trying to do is provide a safe, contactless experience, but also have Please see herrero on A7 By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
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A digital billboard truck, provided by the California Census office, drove through Santa Barbara Wednesday urging resident participation.
Census truck drives through SB Santa Barbara County has counted around 70% of its population for the 2020 Census, already a better response than A digital billboard traversed what it received for the 2010 through city streets Wednesday Census. encouraging local residents to “It’s already surpassed the participate in the 2020 Census. 2010 count, but we can do better, I Operated by the county’s believe,” Ms. Hernandez said. Complete Count Committee and To do better, Wednesday’s Housing Authority of the City of promotional effort was Santa Barbara, the drive through specifically targeted toward the city was aimed at getting the hard-to-count populations, most accurate count for the 2020 which include unemployed Census. and no-income Provided to the individuals, people committee and To see streaming video who live in crowded Housing Authority GO TO residential units, by the state, the newspress.com children under 5, truck emblazoned seniors, and nonanimated messages English speakers. such as “Let our In order to reach them, count be heard,” “I count for my Ms. Hernandez said the community,” and “social change truck traveled through areas is counting on you” on its digital where these individuals are billboard as it drove through concentrated. The truck started Santa Barbara. out traveling through downtown The News-Press saw the truck Santa Barbara, where many driving around 10:15 a.m. across State on Carrillo streets following people congregate throughout the day, before moving to areas an SUV plastered with Census on the Eastside and Westside of promotional posters, driven by the city. Housing Authority family self“We’re being strategic in where sufficiency coordinator Primitiva we place the digital truck in order Hernandez. Ms. Hernandez got to convey the critical messaging,” the attention of passersby by honking her car horn as the truck she said. Ms. Hernandez stressed the trailed behind her. According to Ms. Hernandez, Please see census on A8 By JOSH GREGA
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
At top, copper and iron furniture, made by Mr. Steedman, sits in a couple garden spaces. Each room-like garden has a QR code with historical information. Above, Casa del Herrero, or “House of the Blacksmith,” was named after the original owner’s hobby. The workshop is not currently available for tours because of COVID-19 restrictions.
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L O T T E RY RESU LTS
Comics................. A6 Classified.............. A7 Life.................... A 3-4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 8-22-34-37-39 Meganumber: 22
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 5-6-1-5
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-10-15-31-57 Meganumber: 21
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 1-14-15-27-29
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 03-10-05 Time: 1:43.19
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 27-52-55-60-64 Meganumber: 21
Obituaries............. A8 Soduku................. A5 Weather................ A8
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 4-4-4/ Wednesday’s Midday 7-3-3