Anapamu and De Forrest's trees..... The trees have reached to issues that are working against them. 1) the size and how tall are creating a situation where they are becoming a hazard to the buses' traveling on Anapamu, and moving vans, box delivery vehicles etc. Then there is the issue of So. Cal. Edison lines and cable/phone lines. The root system of these trees cannot sustain during El Nino years and they come down with a crash. In the 300 and 400 block they have been infested with pine beetles etc.
Last weekend (Easter) one dropped on the 500 block (crushing a car) then another dropped on the 400 block (crushing another car. Imagine if thy had gone the other way into housing.
So how about if you have to have them you take them out on a designated time plan and replace them with younger trees?
---
Cars Are Basic, Inc. spent literally years in Council Chambers fighting to keep open De la Guerra Plaza as a green place. I personally spent decades working in Fiesta Booths for various non-profits including Vietnam Veterans. The circular pattern for vehicles is beneficial to the traffic pattern. A traffic pattern this Council does not care about (shutting down State, narrowing streets, and interfering with bus/emergency response. CAB warned the Circulation Element put in place 40 years ago would destroy State and Old Town retail and make it a hollow shell of what it could be and was. Locals now avoid State and derisively refer to it as "Death Valley" where retail and most restaurants go to die. So sure let's pave over Paradise (remember the song), destroy the wonderful pageant called Fiesta, back hand slap at the 4th of July Parade. After all this Council and their hand picked shills on the ABR could care less about a vibrant city. (Did you know there is a report out for years that states to make it work without cars there will have to be 10,000 residents living downtown between De la Vina St. and Santa Barbara Street?) They did not tell you that one over the past decade did they?
That Ladies and Gentlemen, is just the tip of the destruction of Old Town Santa Barbara and the Council that sold out to Sacramento grants and who cares crowd.
A few more questions the city also needs to answer if we hope to ever re-vitalize downtown Santa Barbara:
How many SB Housing Authority units or other subsidized housing units now currently exist or are projected to be built in the immediate down town area.
What is the optimum resident income mix necessary to support downtown commercial viability.
Where are the current job concentrations in downtown Santa Barbara , that require subsidized employee housing to be located in the downtown neighborhoods.
What is the turn-over rate for current downtown housing - both private and subsidized units.
Great issues, and the City trolls say not to worry, Sacramento with its BILLIONS of deficit will gladly hand out city welfare.
There will be no income mix. The City has stated wonderful tech. will move in. OK, where will the employees park? How will they be able to drive to and from? (oh that is right they'll live downtown).....you make that kind of money to live in a cement box.
Your comment about the Housing Authority is important. After all once in their hands the property does not generate a tax base.
Unlike our cities, forests do not plant all the trees at the same time. Perhaps the trees could be replaced a few at a time? The trees on the street my wife grew up on were all planted at the same time in the early 1960's and are now large and becoming a danger to homes and parked cars. In some countries (including parts of this one) utility lines are all buried, eliminating the ugly poles with their dangling wires - and the necessity of butchering the canopy of trees growing near or under them. As for De La Guerra Plaza, a lawn has to be watered, mowed, fertilized and maintained. Foot traffic and people sitting on the grass will create bare spots. So why not just landscape the plaza to suit our wonderful mediterranean climate without covering it with concrete or grass? Use native flora that doesn't require as much water or maintenance.
DG Plaza would be a great place for new rows of umbrella pines, creating a shady canopy over DG paving.
My own favorite European plazas were canopies of gnarled and trained plane trees, over pea-gravel paving. Shady in the summer; open to the sunshine in the winter. Public activities carried on under each season of this living canopy. Simple dignified, and not a vagrancy camping magnet.
And the pea gravel or DG, discomposed gravel allows for rain water penetration to do what’s supposed to do…….recharge our groundwater and provide deep soil moisture for the adjacent tree roots
Inventive, not very historic or Spanish-Moorish, but what a concept for a dedicated central space with plane trees to become a community focal point providing vistas over the new stack and pack high-rises now dotting downtown - this "plane tree cube" could be a novelty draw in its own right to enliven this space year round and worked around for festivals. Pea gravel gives a nice crunch and connection to the earth.
I was going to write a letter to the editor about the De la Guerra plaza story but I think I'll wait a week. Shocked like many others last weekend when I read it, but what I found most disturbing is fact that it's still being considered by the city. It makes no sense. I can say that with authority since I watched a repeat of the Street Advisory Tree Committee meeting, I'll use the words of Brad Hess, he's the Project Manager.
He said the restoration was originally proposed on March 9, 2019, as a way to use Measure C funds. The first idea was limited to raising the level of the street to match the top of the curbs. That was it! Even that doesn't make much sense to me, seems fine as is. In the past five years the project has grown and grown to the point where now the entire plaza will be demolished. Mr. Hess stated they liked the look of the many plazas in Europe and around the world. They are paved, no grass, and then he said something like, "All the great plazas are enclosed."
I said out loud, "So?!!"
What is this obsession with making things look European? Again, DLG plaza has it's own look, a Santa Barbara look.
Back to Measure C and the funding. In 2019 the project had an estimated budget of $700,000. That seems very low in our post-Covid economy. With the rains this year and last I would rather see the funds go to protecting our sewage lines along Mission and Sycamore creeks that keep breaking. Also address the many water main breaks that Public Works have to come out at all hours to fix. I think using Meas. C funds to plan long term repairs is a better use than DLG "Restoration."
I have to mention another person, Debbie Rudd of IOM Design Group. She explained a lot of the new design features. I think she got off on the wrong foot when she said the News Press building will now be referred to as, "715 Anacapa." Seriously? C'mon, it's the News Press building.
Even more strange to me is the amount of time she spent on the medallions. Yes, medallions are big in the proposed design. Small and inlaid into flagstone, she said they will draw people in from State street. . . . .
I'm watching her and I'm shaking my head, no. No, I can't see how tourists or locals would walk up State street, turn into the current Storke Placita, then walk towards DLG plaza because the medallions draw them in. Into the restoration plaza with water features, also known as splash pads. This is mind boggling to me since we have one of the best splash pads in the world, just seven blocks down State street, the beach.
I could go on but I have pages of comments from watching the meeting. I'll end this by saying I wouldn't mind if a few native Oak trees were planted in the plaza, other than that, leave it alone.
In some states and Canada a “Rain Tax” is being implemented and apparently it’s based on how much hard surfaces you own
Driveways, patio’s and any non-porous surfaces are eligible, because when rain flows off of these non-porous areas. It picks up oil and other contaminants which then flows into sewers, lakes, rivers etc.
Now that Santa Barbara is getting more rain the county will be able to raise your property taxes as soon as they figure out how to do it.
Thank you for addressing the issues with our trees on Anapamu St. and attaching the 78 page report which was very well done and appreciated. However, it is not "complete" without the perspective of actually living under these trees. Only one of the researchers lives within a block but even that close is not like surviving under them. We live under one of the massive but still majestic trees. It's beauty has overgrown where it is and now has crossed over to being dangerous. We are not necessarily advocating these trees to be cut down but we are also not "tree huggers" either when they become a source of fear, for not just us but our neighbors as well. To live under these trees during this past winter season was to be in constant apprehension of not knowing which tree is next to fall. There is no one that will disagree that these trees have not been cared for in many years. (Before the question is asked, let me answer it, as yes, we did know we were buying a home under these trees BUT in 2005 they had been cared for with some proper trimming on a regular basis. That has not occurred for many years now and the only hacking and butchering being done is by the utility companies.) As credibility for our concern of these trees, my wife and I are natives, born and raised. We remember the probable reason for "landmarking" these trees because of the gorgeous canopy they provided. My mother lived around the corner on Garden street and remembered when they were planted! I can understand trying to preserve them as Landmarks but just because that was granted doesn't mean they don't grow out of it and become a problem. Lastly, I had to find a replacement insurance company this past March and three out of seven companies I contacted wouldn't quote us because we lived in a high fire danger area...WHAT?
It seems AI did an overview search and the trees on Anapamu St., because of their size and condition, along with the utility lines, constitute a fire risk they would not insure.
If there could be a priority plan for replacement, my wife and I would contribute to the cost of replacing a "seasoned" tree in front of our home, not a seedling with a green bag attached.
Again, not living under these trees may not make it a priority but just ask the two neighbors who had their cars totaled this year and gratefully no personal harm...yet!
A special thanks to the Pearl Chase Society, for their long-standing efforts and funding donations to help save these majestic trees.
Here we go once again.
Anapamu and De Forrest's trees..... The trees have reached to issues that are working against them. 1) the size and how tall are creating a situation where they are becoming a hazard to the buses' traveling on Anapamu, and moving vans, box delivery vehicles etc. Then there is the issue of So. Cal. Edison lines and cable/phone lines. The root system of these trees cannot sustain during El Nino years and they come down with a crash. In the 300 and 400 block they have been infested with pine beetles etc.
Last weekend (Easter) one dropped on the 500 block (crushing a car) then another dropped on the 400 block (crushing another car. Imagine if thy had gone the other way into housing.
So how about if you have to have them you take them out on a designated time plan and replace them with younger trees?
---
Cars Are Basic, Inc. spent literally years in Council Chambers fighting to keep open De la Guerra Plaza as a green place. I personally spent decades working in Fiesta Booths for various non-profits including Vietnam Veterans. The circular pattern for vehicles is beneficial to the traffic pattern. A traffic pattern this Council does not care about (shutting down State, narrowing streets, and interfering with bus/emergency response. CAB warned the Circulation Element put in place 40 years ago would destroy State and Old Town retail and make it a hollow shell of what it could be and was. Locals now avoid State and derisively refer to it as "Death Valley" where retail and most restaurants go to die. So sure let's pave over Paradise (remember the song), destroy the wonderful pageant called Fiesta, back hand slap at the 4th of July Parade. After all this Council and their hand picked shills on the ABR could care less about a vibrant city. (Did you know there is a report out for years that states to make it work without cars there will have to be 10,000 residents living downtown between De la Vina St. and Santa Barbara Street?) They did not tell you that one over the past decade did they?
That Ladies and Gentlemen, is just the tip of the destruction of Old Town Santa Barbara and the Council that sold out to Sacramento grants and who cares crowd.
A few more questions the city also needs to answer if we hope to ever re-vitalize downtown Santa Barbara:
How many SB Housing Authority units or other subsidized housing units now currently exist or are projected to be built in the immediate down town area.
What is the optimum resident income mix necessary to support downtown commercial viability.
Where are the current job concentrations in downtown Santa Barbara , that require subsidized employee housing to be located in the downtown neighborhoods.
What is the turn-over rate for current downtown housing - both private and subsidized units.
I tip my hat to you .....
Great issues, and the City trolls say not to worry, Sacramento with its BILLIONS of deficit will gladly hand out city welfare.
There will be no income mix. The City has stated wonderful tech. will move in. OK, where will the employees park? How will they be able to drive to and from? (oh that is right they'll live downtown).....you make that kind of money to live in a cement box.
Your comment about the Housing Authority is important. After all once in their hands the property does not generate a tax base.
Again thanks for the comments.
I love the columns on local events.
Unlike our cities, forests do not plant all the trees at the same time. Perhaps the trees could be replaced a few at a time? The trees on the street my wife grew up on were all planted at the same time in the early 1960's and are now large and becoming a danger to homes and parked cars. In some countries (including parts of this one) utility lines are all buried, eliminating the ugly poles with their dangling wires - and the necessity of butchering the canopy of trees growing near or under them. As for De La Guerra Plaza, a lawn has to be watered, mowed, fertilized and maintained. Foot traffic and people sitting on the grass will create bare spots. So why not just landscape the plaza to suit our wonderful mediterranean climate without covering it with concrete or grass? Use native flora that doesn't require as much water or maintenance.
DG Plaza would be a great place for new rows of umbrella pines, creating a shady canopy over DG paving.
My own favorite European plazas were canopies of gnarled and trained plane trees, over pea-gravel paving. Shady in the summer; open to the sunshine in the winter. Public activities carried on under each season of this living canopy. Simple dignified, and not a vagrancy camping magnet.
And the pea gravel or DG, discomposed gravel allows for rain water penetration to do what’s supposed to do…….recharge our groundwater and provide deep soil moisture for the adjacent tree roots
Inventive, not very historic or Spanish-Moorish, but what a concept for a dedicated central space with plane trees to become a community focal point providing vistas over the new stack and pack high-rises now dotting downtown - this "plane tree cube" could be a novelty draw in its own right to enliven this space year round and worked around for festivals. Pea gravel gives a nice crunch and connection to the earth.
https://www.arc.ed.tum.de/en/gtla/research/experimental-buildings/plane-tree-cube/:
I was going to write a letter to the editor about the De la Guerra plaza story but I think I'll wait a week. Shocked like many others last weekend when I read it, but what I found most disturbing is fact that it's still being considered by the city. It makes no sense. I can say that with authority since I watched a repeat of the Street Advisory Tree Committee meeting, I'll use the words of Brad Hess, he's the Project Manager.
He said the restoration was originally proposed on March 9, 2019, as a way to use Measure C funds. The first idea was limited to raising the level of the street to match the top of the curbs. That was it! Even that doesn't make much sense to me, seems fine as is. In the past five years the project has grown and grown to the point where now the entire plaza will be demolished. Mr. Hess stated they liked the look of the many plazas in Europe and around the world. They are paved, no grass, and then he said something like, "All the great plazas are enclosed."
I said out loud, "So?!!"
What is this obsession with making things look European? Again, DLG plaza has it's own look, a Santa Barbara look.
Back to Measure C and the funding. In 2019 the project had an estimated budget of $700,000. That seems very low in our post-Covid economy. With the rains this year and last I would rather see the funds go to protecting our sewage lines along Mission and Sycamore creeks that keep breaking. Also address the many water main breaks that Public Works have to come out at all hours to fix. I think using Meas. C funds to plan long term repairs is a better use than DLG "Restoration."
I have to mention another person, Debbie Rudd of IOM Design Group. She explained a lot of the new design features. I think she got off on the wrong foot when she said the News Press building will now be referred to as, "715 Anacapa." Seriously? C'mon, it's the News Press building.
Even more strange to me is the amount of time she spent on the medallions. Yes, medallions are big in the proposed design. Small and inlaid into flagstone, she said they will draw people in from State street. . . . .
I'm watching her and I'm shaking my head, no. No, I can't see how tourists or locals would walk up State street, turn into the current Storke Placita, then walk towards DLG plaza because the medallions draw them in. Into the restoration plaza with water features, also known as splash pads. This is mind boggling to me since we have one of the best splash pads in the world, just seven blocks down State street, the beach.
I could go on but I have pages of comments from watching the meeting. I'll end this by saying I wouldn't mind if a few native Oak trees were planted in the plaza, other than that, leave it alone.
In some states and Canada a “Rain Tax” is being implemented and apparently it’s based on how much hard surfaces you own
Driveways, patio’s and any non-porous surfaces are eligible, because when rain flows off of these non-porous areas. It picks up oil and other contaminants which then flows into sewers, lakes, rivers etc.
Now that Santa Barbara is getting more rain the county will be able to raise your property taxes as soon as they figure out how to do it.
Oh, they will.... Any tax they can add...
Thank you for addressing the issues with our trees on Anapamu St. and attaching the 78 page report which was very well done and appreciated. However, it is not "complete" without the perspective of actually living under these trees. Only one of the researchers lives within a block but even that close is not like surviving under them. We live under one of the massive but still majestic trees. It's beauty has overgrown where it is and now has crossed over to being dangerous. We are not necessarily advocating these trees to be cut down but we are also not "tree huggers" either when they become a source of fear, for not just us but our neighbors as well. To live under these trees during this past winter season was to be in constant apprehension of not knowing which tree is next to fall. There is no one that will disagree that these trees have not been cared for in many years. (Before the question is asked, let me answer it, as yes, we did know we were buying a home under these trees BUT in 2005 they had been cared for with some proper trimming on a regular basis. That has not occurred for many years now and the only hacking and butchering being done is by the utility companies.) As credibility for our concern of these trees, my wife and I are natives, born and raised. We remember the probable reason for "landmarking" these trees because of the gorgeous canopy they provided. My mother lived around the corner on Garden street and remembered when they were planted! I can understand trying to preserve them as Landmarks but just because that was granted doesn't mean they don't grow out of it and become a problem. Lastly, I had to find a replacement insurance company this past March and three out of seven companies I contacted wouldn't quote us because we lived in a high fire danger area...WHAT?
It seems AI did an overview search and the trees on Anapamu St., because of their size and condition, along with the utility lines, constitute a fire risk they would not insure.
If there could be a priority plan for replacement, my wife and I would contribute to the cost of replacing a "seasoned" tree in front of our home, not a seedling with a green bag attached.
Again, not living under these trees may not make it a priority but just ask the two neighbors who had their cars totaled this year and gratefully no personal harm...yet!
Thank you for allowing me to comment.