Real Estate

26 March – 2 April 2020 MONTECITO JOURNAL44 “Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.” – Malala Yousafzai Newer Listings in Montecito Real Estate by Mark Ashton Hunt Mark and his wife, Sheela Hunt, are real estate agents. His family goes back nearly 100 years in the Santa Barbara area. Mark’s grandparents – Bill and Elsie Hunt – were Santa Barbara real estate brokers for 25 years. T he homes that comprise the Montecito Real Estate market offer great diversity in terms of style, price and amenities, as well as the varied topography and neighborhoods this lovely area offers to homeowners. From a canyon side home to a level lot in a private setting, a hill top view home, a historic property resting under a canopy of two hundred year old, oak trees or a beach house, Montecito offers properties of all shapes and sizes (and prices) for those who wish to own a home here.

With the current lower inventory of available homes that is common in winter, we now look toward spring and summer, and toward the anticipated jump in the number of homes offered for sale. The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) usually shows a significant increase in the number of homes on the market in Montecito (common in most cities), between February and May, rising from the lower point where we are now with about 150 or so homes and condos on the market in Winter, to the 200 or so homes and condos usually on the market in the late spring and summer months.

Although we are at a stage of lower inventory, today I have featured four newer listings in four different price ranges, with different architectural styles, to highlight my earlier point about diversity in the area. There are also differences in the situation or circumstances with many listings.

Today’s featured listings represent a diversity in style, price, and property background. Consider a newly built estate on the multi-acre ocean view site where famed comedian Jonathan Winters lived for decades, or benefit from a recent remodel on San Leandro Lane, and own a historic, Reginald Johnson architectural estate with substantial guest parking and nearly 8,000 square feet of living space. Or drive up Park Lane and find a contemporary, ocean view estate compound with long meandering driveway, private pool and pool house, or consider the centrally located, historic, multi structure Spanish compound with a pool on Hot Springs Road situated between the Upper and Lower Villages in Montecito… Here is a closer look at these four newer offerings, all of which are located within the Montecito Union School District. 549 Hot Springs Road - $5,150,000 This is a special opportunity to own a gated 1920s Spanish, adobe style compound in Montecito’s Golden Quadrangle. Beyond the gated entrance, a courtyard welcomes you and features the authentic detailing of the main house and three other separate structures offering a total of seven bedrooms in all.

Set among an acre of lawns, pathways and mature gardens, there is a three-bedroom main house featuring antique doors leading to a formal living room, a romantic master bedroom, a family room leading out to a sparkling pool and spa, and an outdoor dining area, with multiple sun-drenched patios & courtyards.

The two detached additional structures enjoy a private courtyard patio and border a large lawn. On the other side of the property and down a secluded path is a remodeled 1909 pool house with mature landscaping and privacy surrounding. There really is nothing else like this on the market that I can think of and I feel transported every time I step onto the property. 915 Park Lane - $6,150,000

This Park Lane contemporary estate was designed by notable architect Robert Klammer and offers a mix of airiness and light in a style that blends into the environmental surroundings with a big ocean view backdrop. At approximately 5,900+/- square feet of living space, the interior can handle a crowd, but is scaled to function well for everyday use.

The entry wing offers a two-story foyer with atrium and ridge skylights, a master bedroom suite, home office and two guest bedroom suites. Entertaining spaces include the formal living/dining rooms, gourmet kitchen, breakfast nook, adjoining family/media room. Patios and outdoor entertainment areas surround the home.

Two additional bedroom suites and an art studio encompass the second story. Additional details of this compound include a gated entry, motorcourt, three-bay garage, separate guest house and a pool on this very private, three-acre lot. 1684 San Leandro Lane - $7,995,000 Architectural pedigree, historic finishes, meticulous attention to detail, and modern day comforts coalesce at this ultimate Hedgerow estate! This magical 1920, Reginald Johnson designed manor was significantly renovated in 2015 and is steeped in rich period details throughout.

Located in Montecito’s Hedgerow neighborhood, the estate known as Midwood, is ideally positioned between the Upper Village and Miramar Beach, set back from the street and offering significant parking for guests and daily use.

The genius of Johnson’s original design and finishes are felt throughout the 7,500+/- square foot, sprawling home. The single level floor plan is ideal for entertaining and offers flexible spaces for offices and/or bedrooms. Bright, sunlit rooms are surrounded by incredible Lockwood De Forest gardens epitomizing the indoor/outdoor living experience here in Montecito. 945 Lilac Drive - $16,995,000

After a multi-year design and building period, this truly impressive estate compound is now available for a new owner. The extensively remodeled, European-inspired contemporary estate, showcases breathtaking ocean, island and mountain views and is nestled serenely on approximately three picturesque, cascading acres in one of Montecito’s most sought-after neighborhoods. This project is the result of a collaboration between award-winning builder Allen Construction, internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm Harrison Design, and the visionary landscape architects of Arcadia Studio.

Amenities includes an infinity pool and spa, two expansive porticos designed with alfresco dining in mind, an outdoor kitchen and generous seating areas, a movie theater reminiscent of Old Hollywood, a wine cellar/ tasting room, a sizable guest house, and a spacious four-car garage.

Walls of folding and sliding doors invite an abundance of natural light in while capitalizing on the stunning grounds and panoramic views, and double as a welcoming gateway to the alluring porticos beyond. There is approximately 9,500+/- square feet of living space, plus the guest house, covered loggia’s and four-car attached garage. •MJ For more information on any of these listings or to have me arrange a showing with the listing agents, please contact me directly, Mark@Villagesite.com or call/text 805- 698-2174. Please view my website, www.MontecitoBestBuys.com, from which this article is based.

SEEN (Continued from page 14) which is one of the largest expenses. Besides these companies have the knowledge to do it. There were 21,000 shipments sent out to 99 countries and 53 in the United States last year.

DR began when two WWII refugees came to the United States after the war. They began sending CARE packages to relatives left behind who had nothing. It morphed into this amazing organization of today.

“It is an honor to pack and provide hygiene kits to women around the world. We hope they can find strength in knowing that women from a different part of the world care for and support them,” said Kristin McWilliams. “I think it’s fabulous that in our local community we have a robust group of women who want to come together to make an impact by supporting DR and women everywhere,” added co-chair Kelly Walker, a member of Direct Relief Women.

For more information about DR visit www.directrelief.org. Regarding African Schools of Kenya, please visit https://www.askenya.org/.

Ediben Bilog, artistic and general director Kostis Protopapas, Joyce Familara, and Timothy Accurso at the opera reception

Patron Mel Sahyun, Mahri Kerley, Andrea Puente Catan, and Raul Melo after the opera

Opera Santa Barbara

“Welcome to our first ever production of an opera in Spanish,” said Opera Santa Barbara’s (OSB) artistic and general director Kostis Protopapas and board chair Joan Rutkowski. There was a sold-out audience at the Lobero

Decorating chair for the OSB patron party Patricia Dixon, Sibo Msibi, and Nina Dunbar

Board intern Tanner Cassidy and OSB board chair Joan Rutkowski

to see Il Postino (The Postman). Some of you may remember the 1994 Oscar winning film which transferred the action to Italy before becoming Daniel Catan’s opera. The opera retained the Italian title and locale but repatriates its language to Spanish.

Catan is one of the most important composers of the turn of the 21 st Century. The opera places a historical figure – Pablo Neruda (one of the most important poets of Latin America) in the midst of imaginary characters and events. Neruda is a poet fixated on romantic love and the ocean. He was also an activist. It’s an opera with much humor as Neruda teaches his postman friend about metaphors so that he too can be a poet. And of course there is the romance between the postman and Beatrice.

According to Kostis and Joan, “Neruda’s life brings to mind something JFK said in his tribute to another great poet, Robert Frost: ‘The artist however faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility against an intrusive society and an officious state.’” The stage director Crystal Manich tells us Il Postino is based on the novel by Antonio Skármeta. The action of the opera is moved from the novel’s Chilean setting to the fictitious Italian island of Cala di Sotto during Neruda’s political exile from Chile in 1950.

• The Voice of the Village • MONTECITO JOURNAL 45 Kostis was named general director of OSB in 2017 and has grown the company’s staff from three to seven. “They are an enthusiastic group of overachievers sharing an appetite for innovation and the desire to strengthen the company’s bond with the community.” Under his leadership OSB has seen the creation of Youth Opera, a program providing educational and performance opportunities for school age children, the expansion of the Chrisman Studio program and an impressive growth in the company’s community engagement (the audiences are getting younger) and educational activities throughout the Central Coast. There is also a runaway success of Operacurious, a new program that brings Young Professionals in Santa Barbara in contact with opera and its artists.

Following the performance was a patron’s reception which had transformed the tent into a little bit of Italy by Patricia Dixon and her helpers. Platters of heavy hors d’oeuvres and goblets of wine were showcased among photos of Italy. I always have a special place in my heart for the country where my son was born.

Come see OSB’s last production of the season, Romeo and Juliet, May 1 and May 3, 2020 at the Lobero Theatre. The 20-21 season will be La Traviata, Little Women, and Daughter of the Regiment. •MJ